Proverbs 16

1The plans of the heart belong to man, but the reply of the tongue is from the LORD.The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from Yahweh.The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the Lord.The plans of the heart belong to man; But the answer of the tongue is from Jehovah. 2All a man’s ways are pure in his own eyes, but his motives are weighed out by the LORD.All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes, but Yahweh weighs the motives.All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the Lord weigheth the spirits.All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; But Jehovah weigheth the spirits. 3Commit your works to the LORD and your plans will be achieved.Commit your deeds to Yahweh, and your plans shall succeed.Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established.Commit thy works unto Jehovah, And thy purposes shall be established. 4The LORD has made everything for His purpose—even the wicked for the day of disaster.Yahweh has made everything for its own end— yes, even the wicked for the day of evil.The Lord hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.Jehovah hath made everything for its own end; Yea, even the wicked for the day of evil. 5Everyone who is proud in heart is detestable to the LORD; be assured that he will not go unpunished.Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to Yahweh; they shall certainly not be unpunished.Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to Jehovah: Though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished. 6By loving devotion and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the LORD one turns aside from evil.By mercy and truth iniquity is atoned for. By the fear of Yahweh men depart from evil.By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.By mercy and truth iniquity is atoned for; And by the fear of Jehovah men depart from evil. 7When a man’s ways please the LORD, He makes even the man’s enemies live at peace with him.When a man’s ways please Yahweh, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.When a man’s ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.When a man’s ways please Jehovah, He maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him. 8Better a little with righteousness than great gain with injustice.Better is a little with righteousness, than great revenues with injustice.Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right.Better is a little, with righteousness, Than great revenues with injustice. 9A man’s heart plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.A man’s heart plans his course, but Yahweh directs his steps.A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps.A man’s heart deviseth his way; But Jehovah directeth his steps. 10A divine verdict is on the lips of a king; his mouth must not betray justice.Inspired judgments are on the lips of the king. He shall not betray his mouth.A divine sentence is in the lips of the king: his mouth transgresseth not in judgment.A divine sentence is in the lips of the king; His mouth shall not transgress in judgment. 11Honest scales and balances are from the LORD; all the weights in the bag are His concern.Honest balances and scales are Yahweh’s; all the weights in the bag are his work.A just weight and balance are the Lord’s: all the weights of the bag are his work.A just balance and scales are Jehovah’s; All the weights of the bag are his work. 12Wicked behavior is detestable for kings, for a throne is established through righteousness.It is an abomination for kings to do wrong, for the throne is established by righteousness.It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is established by righteousness.It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness; For the throne is established by righteousness. 13Righteous lips are a king’s delight, and he who speaks honestly is beloved.Righteous lips are the delight of kings. They value one who speaks the truth.Righteous lips are the delight of kings; and they love him that speaketh right.Righteous lips are the delight of kings; And they love him that speaketh right. 14The wrath of a king is a messenger of death, but a wise man will pacify it.The king’s wrath is a messenger of death, but a wise man will pacify it.The wrath of a king is as messengers of death: but a wise man will pacify it.The wrath of a king is as messengers of death; But a wise man will pacify it. 15When a king’s face brightens, there is life; his favor is like a rain cloud in spring.In the light of the king’s face is life. His favor is like a cloud of the spring rain.In the light of the king’s countenance is life; and his favour is as a cloud of the latter rain.In the light of the king’s countenance is life; And his favor is as a cloud of the latter rain. 16How much better to acquire wisdom than gold! To gain understanding is more desirable than silver.How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! Yes, to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! Yea, to get understanding is rather to be chosen than silver. 17The highway of the upright leads away from evil; he who guards his way protects his life.The highway of the upright is to depart from evil. He who keeps his way preserves his soul.The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: He that keepeth his way preserveth his soul. 18Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.Pride goes before destruction, and an arrogant spirit before a fall.Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.Pride goeth before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall. 19It is better to be lowly in spirit among the humble than to divide the spoil with the proud.It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor, than to divide the plunder with the proud.Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.Better it is to be of a lowly spirit with the poor, Than to divide the spoil with the proud. 20Whoever heeds instruction will find success, and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD.He who heeds the Word finds prosperity. Whoever trusts in Yahweh is blessed.He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the Lord, happy is he.He that giveth heed unto the word shall find good; And whoso trusteth in Jehovah, happy is he. 21The wise in heart are called discerning, and pleasant speech promotes instruction.The wise in heart shall be called prudent. Pleasantness of the lips promotes instruction.The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.The wise in heart shall be called prudent; And the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning. 22Understanding is a fountain of life to its possessor, but the discipline of fools is folly.Understanding is a fountain of life to one who has it, but the punishment of fools is their folly.Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the instruction of fools is folly.Understanding is a well-spring of life unto him that hath it; But the correction of fools is their folly. 23The heart of the wise man instructs his mouth and adds persuasiveness to his lips.The heart of the wise instructs his mouth, and adds learning to his lips.The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips.The heart of the wise instructeth his mouth, And addeth learning to his lips. 24Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.Pleasant words are as a honeycomb, Sweet to the soul, and health to the bones. 25There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.There is a way which seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, But the end thereof are the ways of death. 26A worker’s appetite works for him because his hunger drives him onward.The appetite of the laboring man labors for him, for his mouth urges him on.He that laboureth laboureth for himself; for his mouth craveth it of him.The appetite of the laboring man laboreth for him; For his mouth urgeth him thereto. 27A worthless man digs up evil, and his speech is like a scorching fire.A worthless man devises mischief. His speech is like a scorching fire.An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips there is as a burning fire.A worthless man deviseth mischief; And in his lips there is as a scorching fire. 28A perverse man spreads dissension, and a gossip divides close friends.A perverse man stirs up strife. A whisperer separates close friends.A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.A perverse man scattereth abroad strife; And a whisperer separateth chief friends. 29A violent man entices his neighbor and leads him down a path that is not good.A man of violence entices his neighbor, and leads him in a way that is not good.A violent man enticeth his neighbour, and leadeth him into the way that is not good.A man of violence enticeth his neighbor, And leadeth him in a way that is not good. 30He who winks his eye devises perversity; he who purses his lips is bent on evil.One who winks his eyes to plot perversities, one who compresses his lips, is bent on evil.He shutteth his eyes to devise froward things: moving his lips he bringeth evil to pass.He that shutteth his eyes, it is to devise perverse things: He that compresseth his lips bringeth evil to pass. 31Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is attained along the path of righteousness.Gray hair is a crown of glory. It is attained by a life of righteousness.The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness.The hoary head is a crown of glory; It shall be found in the way of righteousness. 32He who is slow to anger is better than a warrior, and he who controls his temper is greater than one who captures a city.One who is slow to anger is better than the mighty; one who rules his spirit, than he who takes a city.He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; And he that ruleth his spirit, than he that taketh a city. 33The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from Yahweh.The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord.The lot is cast into the lap; But the whole disposing thereof is of Jehovah.

Berean Standard Bible (public domain).World English Bible (public domain).King James Version (public domain in the US).American Standard Version, 1901 (public domain).

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