Proverbs 16-18
New American Standard Bible
Chapter 16
1The plans of the heart belong to a person, But the answer of the tongue is from the Lord. 2All the ways of a person are clean in his own sight, But the Lord examines the motives. 3 Commit your works to the Lord, And your plans will be established. 4The Lord has made everything for its own purpose, Even the wicked for the day of evil. 5Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord; Be assured, he will not go unpunished. 6By mercy and truth atonement is made for wrongdoing, And by the fear of the Lord one keeps away from evil. 7When a person’s ways are pleasing to the Lord, He causes even his enemies to make peace with him. 8Better is a little with righteousness Than great income with injustice. 9The mind of a person plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps. 10A divine verdict is on the lips of the king; His mouth should not err in judgment. 11A just balance and scales belong to the Lord; All the weights of the bag are His concern. 12It is an abomination for kings to commit wicked acts, Because a throne is established on righteousness. 13Righteous lips are the delight of kings, And one who speaks right is loved. 14The fury of a king is like messengers of death; But a wise person will appease it. 15In the light of a king’s face is life, And his favor is like a cloud with the spring rain. 16How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen above silver. 17The highway of the upright is to turn away from evil; One who watches his way protects his life. 18Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before stumbling. 19It is better to be humble in spirit with the needy Than to divide the spoils with the proud. 20One who pays attention to the word will find good, And blessed is one who trusts in the Lord. 21The wise in heart will be called understanding, And sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness. 22Understanding is a fountain of life to those who have it, But the discipline of fools is foolishness. 23The heart of the wise instructs his mouth And adds persuasiveness to his lips. 24Pleasant words are a honeycomb, Sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. 25There is a way which seems right to a person, But its end is the way of death. 26A worker’s appetite works for him, For his hunger urges him on. 27A worthless person digs up evil, While his words are like scorching fire. 28A perverse person spreads strife, And a slanderer separates close friends. 29A person of violence entices his neighbor And leads him in a way that is not good. 30He who winks his eyes does so to devise perverse things; He who compresses his lips brings evil to pass. 31A gray head is a crown of glory; It is found in the way of righteousness. 32One who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And one who rules his spirit, than one who captures a city. 33The lot is cast into the lap, But its every decision is from the Lord.Chapter 17
1Better is a dry morsel and quietness with it Than a house full of feasting with strife. 2A servant who acts wisely will rule over a son who acts shamefully, And will share in the inheritance among brothers. 3The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, But the Lord tests hearts. 4An evildoer listens to wicked lips; A liar pays attention to a destructive tongue. 5One who mocks the poor taunts his Maker; One who rejoices at disaster will not go unpunished. 6Grandchildren are the crown of the old, And the glory of sons is their fathers. 7 Excellent speech is not fitting for a fool, Much less are lying lips to a prince. 8A bribe is a charm in the sight of its owner; Wherever he turns, he prospers. 9One who conceals an offense seeks love, But one who repeats a matter separates close friends. 10A rebuke goes deeper into one who has understanding Than a hundred blows into a fool. 11A rebellious person seeks only evil, So a cruel messenger will be sent against him. 12Let a person meet a bear robbed of her cubs, Rather than a fool in his foolishness. 13One who returns evil for good, Evil will not depart from his house. 14The beginning of strife is like letting out water, So abandon the quarrel before it breaks out. 15One who justifies the wicked and one who condemns the righteous, Both of them alike are an abomination to the Lord. 16Why is there money in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, When he has no sense? 17A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity. 18A person lacking in sense shakes hands And becomes guarantor in the presence of his neighbor. 19One who loves wrongdoing loves strife; One who makes his doorway high seeks destruction. 20One who has a crooked mind finds nothing good, And one who is corrupted in his language falls into evil. 21He who fathers a fool does so to his sorrow, And the father of a fool has no joy. 22A joyful heart is good medicine, But a broken spirit dries up the bones. 23A wicked person accepts a bribe from an inside pocket To pervert the ways of justice. 24Wisdom is in the presence of one who has understanding, But the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth. 25A foolish son is a grief to his father, And bitterness to her who gave birth to him. 26It is also not good to fine the righteous, Nor to strike the noble for their uprightness. 27One who withholds his words has knowledge, And one who has a cool spirit is a person of understanding. 28Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise; When he closes his lips, he is considered prudent.Chapter 18
1One who separates himself seeks his own desire; He quarrels against all sound wisdom. 2A fool does not delight in understanding, But in revealing his own mind. 3When a wicked person comes, contempt also comes, And with dishonor comes taunting. 4The words of a person’s mouth are deep waters; The fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook. 5To show partiality to the wicked is not good, Nor to suppress the righteous in judgment. 6A fool’s lips bring strife, And his mouth invites beatings. 7A fool’s mouth is his ruin, And his lips are the snare of his soul. 8The words of a gossiper are like dainty morsels, And they go down into the innermost parts of the body. 9He also who is lax in his work Is a brother to him who destroys. 10The name of the Lord is a strong tower; The righteous runs into it and is safe. 11A rich person’s wealth is his strong city, And like a high wall in his own imagination. 12Before destruction the heart of a person is haughty, But humility goes before honor. 13One who gives an answer before he hears, It is foolishness and shame to him. 14The spirit of a person can endure his sickness, But as for a broken spirit, who can endure it? 15The mind of the discerning acquires knowledge, And the ear of the wise seeks knowledge. 16A person’s gift makes room for him And brings him before great people. 17The first to plead his case seems right, Until another comes and examines him. 18The cast lot puts an end to quarrels, And decides between the mighty ones. 19A brother who is offended is harder to be won than a strong city, And quarrels are like the bars of a citadel. 20With the fruit of a person’s mouth his stomach will be satisfied; He will be satisfied with the product of his lips. 21Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit. 22He who finds a wife finds a good thing And obtains favor from the Lord. 23A poor person utters pleadings, But a rich person answers defiantly. 24A person of too many friends comes to ruin, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.King James Version
33The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord.
Chapter 17
1Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife.
24Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.
Christian Standard Bible
Chapter 16
1The reflections of the heart belong to mankind, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
32Patience is better than power, and controlling one’s emotions, than capturing a city.
33The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.
New Living Translation
English Standard Version
Chapter 16
1The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord. 2 All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirit. 3 Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established. 4 The Lord has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble. 5Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the Lord; be assured, he will not go unpunished. 6By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the Lord one turns away from evil. 7When a man 's ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. 8 Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues with injustice. 9 The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps. 10 An oracle is on the lips of a king; his mouth does not sin in judgment. 11 A just balance and scales are the Lord 's; all the weights in the bag are his work. 12It is an abomination to kings to do evil, for the throne is established by righteousness. 13 Righteous lips are the delight of a king, and he loves him who speaks what is right. 14 A king 's wrath is a messenger of death, and a wise man will appease it. 15 In the light of a king 's face there is life, and his favor is like the clouds that bring the spring rain. 16 How much better to get wisdom than gold! To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver. 17The highway of the upright turns aside from evil; whoever guards his way preserves his life. 18 Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. 19 It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor than to divide the spoil with the proud. 20Whoever gives thought to the word will discover good, and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord. 21The wise of heart is called discerning, and sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness. 22Good sense is a fountain of life to him who has it, but the instruction of fools is folly. 23 The heart of the wise makes his speech judicious and adds persuasiveness to his lips. 24 Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body. 25There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death. 26A worker 's appetite works for him; his mouth urges him on. 27 A worthless man plots evil, and his speech is like a scorching fire. 28 A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends. 29A man of violence entices his neighbor and leads him in a way that is not good. 30Whoever winks his eyes plans dishonest things; he who purses his lips brings evil to pass. 31 Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life. 32 Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city. 33 The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.Chapter 17
1 Better is a dry morsel with quiet than a house full of feasting with strife. 2A servant who deals wisely will rule over a son who acts shamefully and will share the inheritance as one of the brothers. 3 The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and the Lord tests hearts. 4An evildoer listens to wicked lips, and a liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue. 5Whoever mocks the poor insults his Maker; he who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished. 6 Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of children is their fathers. 7Fine speech is not becoming to a fool; still less is false speech to a prince. 8 A bribe is like a magic stone in the eyes of the one who gives it; wherever he turns he prospers. 9Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends. 10A rebuke goes deeper into a man of understanding than a hundred blows into a fool. 11An evil man seeks only rebellion, and a cruel messenger will be sent against him. 12Let a man meet a she-bear robbed of her cubs rather than a fool in his folly. 13If anyone returns evil for good, evil will not depart from his house. 14The beginning of strife is like letting out water, so quit before the quarrel breaks out. 15He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous are both alike an abomination to the Lord. 16Why should a fool have money in his hand to buy wisdom when he has no sense? 17 A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. 18One who lacks sense gives a pledge and puts up security in the presence of his neighbor. 19Whoever loves transgression loves strife; he who makes his door high seeks destruction. 20 A man of crooked heart does not discover good, and one with a dishonest tongue falls into calamity. 21He who sires a fool gets himself sorrow, and the father of a fool has no joy. 22 A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. 23The wicked accepts a bribe in secret to pervert the ways of justice. 24 The discerning sets his face toward wisdom, but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth. 25 A foolish son is a grief to his father and bitterness to her who bore him. 26 To impose a fine on a righteous man is not good, nor to strike the noble for their uprightness. 27Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding. 28Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.Chapter 18
1Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment. 2A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion. 3When wickedness comes, contempt comes also, and with dishonor comes disgrace. 4The words of a man 's mouth are deep waters; the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook. 5It is not good to be partial to the wicked or to deprive the righteous of justice. 6A fool 's lips walk into a fight, and his mouth invites a beating. 7 A fool 's mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to his soul. 8 The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body. 9Whoever is slack in his work is a brother to him who destroys. 10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe. 11 A rich man 's wealth is his strong city, and like a high wall in his imagination. 12 Before destruction a man 's heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor. 13If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame. 14A man 's spirit will endure sickness, but a crushed spirit who can bear? 15An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge. 16A man 's gift makes room for him and brings him before the great. 17The one who states his case first seems right, until the other comes and examines him. 18 The lot puts an end to quarrels and decides between powerful contenders. 19A brother offended is more unyielding than a strong city, and quarreling is like the bars of a castle. 20 From the fruit of a man 's mouth his stomach is satisfied; he is satisfied by the yield of his lips. 21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits. 22He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord. 23The poor use entreaties, but the rich answer roughly. 24A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.New International Version
Chapter 16
1To humans belong the plans of the heart, but from the Lord comes the proper answer of the tongue.
32Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city.
33The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.
27The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint, and whoever has understanding is even-tempered.
28Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent, and discerning if they hold their tongues.
New King James Version
