16:1 The intentions of the heart1 belong to a man,2
but the answer of the tongue3 comes from4 the Lord.5
16:2 All the ways of a person6 seem right7 in his own opinion,8
but the Lord weighs9 the motives.10
16:3 Commit11 your works12 to the Lord,
and your plans will be established.13
16:4 The Lord works14 everything for its own ends15—
even the wicked for the day of disaster.16
16:5 The Lord abhors17 every arrogant person;18
one can be sure19 that they will not go unpunished.20
16:6 Through loyal love and truth21 iniquity is appeased;22
through fearing the Lord23 one avoids24 evil.25
16:7 When a person’s26 ways are pleasing to the Lord,27
he28 even reconciles his enemies to himself.29
16:8 Better to have a little with righteousness30
than to have abundant income without justice.31
16:9 A person32 plans his course,33
but the Lord directs34 his steps.35
16:10 The divine verdict36 is in the words37 of the king,
his pronouncements38 must not act treacherously39 against justice.
16:11 Honest scales and balances40 are from the Lord;
all the weights41 in the bag are his making.
16:12 Doing wickedness42 is an abomination to kings,
because a throne43 is established in righteousness.44
16:13 The delight of kings45 is righteous counsel,46
and they love the one who speaks47 uprightly.48
16:14 A king’s wrath49 is like50 a messenger of death,51
but a wise person appeases it.52
16:15 In the light of the king’s face53 there is life,
and his favor is like the clouds54 of the spring rain.55
16:16 How much better it is to acquire56 wisdom than gold;
to acquire understanding is more choice57 than silver.
16:17 The highway58 of the upright is to turn59 away from evil;
the one who guards60 his way safeguards his life.61
16:18 Pride62 goes63 before destruction,
and a haughty spirit before a fall.64
16:19 It is better to be lowly in spirit65 with the afflicted
than to share the spoils66 with the proud.
16:20 The one who deals wisely67 in a matter68 will find success,69
and blessed70 is the one who trusts in the Lord.71
16:21 The one who is wise in heart72 is called73 discerning,
and the kind speech74 increases persuasiveness.75
16:22 Insight76 is like77 a life-giving fountain78 to the one who has wisdom,79
but folly leads to the discipline of fools.80
16:23 The heart of a wise person makes his speech wise81
and it adds persuasiveness82 to his words.83
16:24 Pleasant words are like84 a honeycomb,85
sweet to the heart86 and healing87 to the bones.
16:25 There is a way that seems right to a person,88
but its end is the way of death.89
16:26 The appetite90 of a laborer91 works on his behalf,92
for his hunger93 urges him to work.94
16:27 A wicked scoundrel95 digs up96 evil,
and his slander97 is like a scorching fire.98
16:28 A perverse person99 spreads dissension,
and a gossip separates close friends.100
16:29 A violent person101 entices102 his neighbor,
and leads him down a path that is terrible.103
16:30 The one who winks his eyes104 devises perverse things,
and105 one who compresses his lips106 brings about107 evil.
16:31 Gray hair is like108 a crown of glory;109
it is attained110 in the path of righteousness.111
16:32 Better to be slow to anger112 than to be a mighty warrior,
and one who rules his temper113 is better than114 one who captures a city.115
16:33 The dice are thrown into the lap,116
but every decision117 is from the Lord.118