16 People make plans in their minds,
but the Lord gives them the right words to say.
2 You may think that everything you do is right,
but the Lord knows exactly why you are doing it.
3 Put your plans in front of the Lord ,
so that what you want to do will go well.
4 The Lord causes everything to have its proper result.
Even wicked people will come to bad trouble in the end.
5 The Lord hates everyone who boasts.
Be sure of this: They will receive the punishment that they deserve.
6 If you love the Lord faithfully,
he will forgive your sins.
If you respect and obey him,
you will not do evil things.
7 If you live in a way that pleases the Lord ,
even your enemies will become your friends.
8 If you do what is right but you are not rich,
that is better than to be rich because you cheat people.
9 People make plans for what they will do,
but it is the Lord who leads them in the right way.
10 A king speaks with God's authority.
He must judge people in a fair way.
11 The Lord wants people to use true weights and measures.
He knows all the weights that a trader uses.
12 Kings hate all wicked acts,
because justice makes their government strong.
13 Kings are happy to hear honest advice.
They love people who speak true words.
14 Someone may die if the king becomes angry with him.
So a wise person will try to stop the king's anger.
15 If the king smiles at you, your life will go well.
If he is pleased with you, that is like a cloud which gives rain in the spring.
16 It is better to have wisdom than gold or silver.
You should want to understand what is right.
17 Honest people follow a straight road that keeps them away from evil things.
If you want to keep your life safe, watch where you are going.
18 If you are proud, you will soon come to an end.
Anyone who boasts will soon fall down.
19 You may be humble and have poor people as your friends.
But that is better than if you have proud friends
who give you things that they have robbed from others.
20 If you listen carefully to good teaching, you will do well.
If you trust in the Lord , you are in a happy place.
21 If you have wise thoughts,
people will say that you know what is right.
If you speak kind words,
people will accept your teaching.
22 Wisdom is like a spring of fresh water that gives life to those who have it.
But the silly things that fools do brings them punishment.
23 Wise people think carefully and they speak wise words.
Then other people will accept their teaching.
24 Kind words are as sweet as honey.
They also bring health and strength.
25 You may think that you are on a good, straight road.
But in the end, that road may lead you to death.
26 When a worker feels hungry, it causes him to work more.
So it helps him to get food to eat.
27 Wicked people look for ways to hurt other people.
The cruel things that they say are like flames of fire.
28 People who tell lies cause arguments.
If you tell people's secrets, you will lose all your friends.
29 Violent people deceive their friends.
They lead their friends to do wrong things.
30 If someone sends secret messages with his eyes,
he has a plan to hurt someone.
If he squeezes his lips together,
he is ready to do an evil thing.
31 Grey hair is like a beautiful crown on your head!
People who live in a righteous way may wear it.
32 A person who is patient is better than a brave soldier.
If you can control your anger, you can win any battle.
33 People throw dice to choose what is right.
But it is the Lord who decides the answer.
16 People might plan what they want to say, but it is the Lord who gives them the right words.
2 People think that whatever they do is right, but the Lord judges their reason for doing it.
3 Turn to the Lord for help in everything you do, and you will be successful.
4 The Lord has a plan for everything. In his plan, the wicked will be destroyed.
5 The Lord hates those who are proud. You can be sure he will punish them all.
6 Faithful love and loyalty will remove your guilt. [ a ] Respect the Lord , and you will stay far away from evil.
7 When people live to please the Lord , even their enemies will be at peace with them.
8 It is better to be poor and do right than to be rich and do wrong.
9 People can plan what they want to do, but it is the Lord who guides their steps.
10 When a king speaks, his words are law. So when he makes a decision, it is never a mistake.
11 The Lord wants all scales and balances to be right; he wants all business agreements to be fair.
12 Kings hate to see anyone doing wrong, [ b ] because kingdoms grow strong only when everyone is honest and fair.
13 Kings want to hear the truth. They like those who are honest.
14 When a king gets angry, he can put someone to death. So it is wise to keep the king happy.
15 When the king is happy, life is better for everyone. When he is pleased, it is like a refreshing spring rain.
16 Wisdom is worth much more than gold. Understanding is worth much more than silver.
17 Good people try to avoid evil. They watch what they do and protect themselves.
18 Pride is the first step toward destruction. Proud thoughts will lead you to defeat.
19 It is better to be a humble person living among the poor than to share the wealth among the proud.
20 Good things happen to those who learn from their experiences, and the Lord blesses those who trust him.
21 People will know if someone is wise. Those who choose their words carefully can be very convincing.
22 Good sense is a spring of fresh water to those who have it, but fools can offer only foolishness.
23 Wise people always think before they speak, so what they say is worth listening to.
24 Kind words are like honey; they are easy to accept and good for your health.
25 There is a way that seems right to people, but that way leads only to death.
26 The thought of hunger keeps the workers working so that they can eat.
27 Troublemakers create disasters. Their advice destroys like a wildfire.
28 Troublemakers are always causing problems. Their gossip breaks up the closest of friends.
29 Cruel people trick their neighbors and make them do wrong. 30 With a wink of the eye, they plan to trick someone. With a grin, they make plans to hurt their friends.
31 Gray hair is a crown of glory on people who have lived good lives. It is earned by living right.
32 It is better to be patient than to be a strong soldier. It is better to control your anger than to capture a city.
33 People might throw lots to make a decision, but the answer always comes from the Lord .
16 The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the Lord .
2 All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the Lord weigheth the spirits.
3 Commit thy works unto the Lord , and thy thoughts shall be established.
4 The Lord hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.
5 Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord : though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.
6 By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.
7 When a man's ways please the Lord , he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.
8 Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right.
9 A man's heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps.
10 A divine sentence is in the lips of the king: his mouth transgresseth not in judgment.
11 A just weight and balance are the Lord 's: all the weights of the bag are his work.
12 It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is established by righteousness.
13 Righteous lips are the delight of kings; and they love him that speaketh right.
14 The wrath of a king is as messengers of death: but a wise man will pacify it.
15 In the light of the king's countenance is life; and his favour is as a cloud of the latter rain.
16 How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!
17 The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.
18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
19 Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.
20 He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the Lord , happy is he.
21 The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.
22 Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the instruction of fools is folly.
23 The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips.
24 Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
25 There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
26 He that laboureth laboureth for himself; for his mouth craveth it of him.
27 An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips there is as a burning fire.
28 A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.
29 A violent man enticeth his neighbour, and leadeth him into the way that is not good.
30 He shutteth his eyes to devise froward things: moving his lips he bringeth evil to pass.
31 The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness.
32 He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.
33 The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord .
16 The ( A ) plans of the heart belong to a person,
But the answer of the tongue is from the Lord .
2 All the ways of a person are clean in his own sight,
But the ( B ) Lord examines the [ a ] motives.
3 [ b ] ( C ) Commit your works to the Lord ,
And your plans will be established.
4 The Lord ( D ) has made everything for [ c ] its own purpose,
Even the ( E ) wicked for the day of evil.
5 Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord ;
[ d ] Be assured, he will not go unpunished.
6 By ( F ) mercy and truth atonement is made for wrongdoing,
And by [ e ] the ( G ) fear of the Lord one keeps away from evil.
7 When a person’s ways are pleasing to the Lord ,
He ( H ) causes even his enemies to make peace with him.
8 Better is a little with righteousness
Than great income with injustice.
9 The mind of a ( I ) person plans his way,
But ( J ) the Lord directs his steps.
10 A divine ( K ) verdict is on the lips of the king;
His mouth should not [ f ] err in judgment.
11 A ( L ) just balance and scales belong to the Lord ;
All the [ g ] weights of the bag are His [ h ] concern.
12 It is an abomination for kings to commit wicked acts,
Because a ( M ) throne is established on righteousness.
13 Righteous lips are the delight of kings,
And one who speaks right is loved.
14 The fury of a king is like messengers of death;
But a wise person will appease it.
15 In the light of a king’s face is life,
And his favor is like a cloud with the [ i ] ( N ) spring rain.
16 How much ( O ) better it is to get wisdom than gold!
And to get understanding is to be chosen above silver.
17 The ( P ) highway of the upright is to turn away from evil;
One who watches his way protects his [ j ] life.
18 ( Q ) Pride goes before destruction,
And a haughty spirit before stumbling.
19 It is better to be ( R ) humble in spirit with the needy
Than to ( S ) divide the spoils with the proud.
20 One who pays attention to the word will ( T ) find good,
And ( U ) blessed is one who trusts in the Lord .
21 The ( V ) wise in heart will be called understanding,
And sweetness of [ k ] speech ( W ) increases [ l ] persuasiveness.
22 Understanding is a fountain of life to those who have it,
But the discipline of fools is foolishness.
23 The ( X ) heart of the wise instructs his mouth
And adds [ m ] persuasiveness to his lips.
24 ( Y ) Pleasant words are a honeycomb,
Sweet to the soul and ( Z ) healing to the bones.
25 ( AA ) There is a way which seems right to a person,
But its end is the way of death.
26 A worker’s appetite works for him,
For his [ n ] hunger urges him on .
27 A ( AB ) worthless person digs up evil,
While [ o ] his words are like ( AC ) scorching fire.
28 A perverse person spreads strife,
And a [ p ] slanderer separates close friends.
29 A person of violence ( AD ) entices his neighbor
And leads him in a way that is not good.
30 He who winks his eyes does so to devise perverse things;
He who compresses his lips brings evil to pass.
31 A ( AE ) gray head is a crown of glory;
It ( AF ) is found in the way of righteousness.
32 One who is slow to anger is better than the mighty,
And one who rules his spirit, than one who captures a city.
33 The ( AG ) lot is cast into the lap,
But its every ( AH ) decision is from the Lord .
16 To humans belong the plans of the heart,
but from the Lord comes the proper answer of the tongue. ( A )
3 Commit to the Lord whatever you do,
and he will establish your plans. ( E )
4 The Lord works out everything to its proper end ( F ) —
even the wicked for a day of disaster. ( G )
5 The Lord detests all the proud of heart. ( H )
Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished. ( I )
6 Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for;
through the fear of the Lord ( J ) evil is avoided. ( K )
7 When the Lord takes pleasure in anyone’s way,
he causes their enemies to make peace ( L ) with them. ( M )
9 In their hearts humans plan their course,
but the Lord establishes their steps. ( P )
10 The lips of a king speak as an oracle,
and his mouth does not betray justice. ( Q )
11 Honest scales and balances belong to the Lord ;
all the weights in the bag are of his making. ( R )
12 Kings detest wrongdoing,
for a throne is established through righteousness. ( S )
13 Kings take pleasure in honest lips;
they value the one who speaks what is right. ( T )
15 When a king’s face brightens, it means life; ( W )
his favor is like a rain cloud in spring. ( X )
17 The highway of the upright avoids evil;
those who guard their ways preserve their lives. ( AA )
19 Better to be lowly in spirit along with the oppressed
than to share plunder with the proud.
20 Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, [ a ] ( AE )
and blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord . ( AF )
22 Prudence is a fountain of life to the prudent, ( AH )
but folly brings punishment to fools.
23 The hearts of the wise make their mouths prudent, ( AI )
and their lips promote instruction. [ c ] ( AJ )
26 The appetite of laborers works for them;
their hunger drives them on.
29 A violent person entices their neighbor
and leads them down a path that is not good. ( AS )
30 Whoever winks ( AT ) with their eye is plotting perversity;
whoever purses their lips is bent on evil.
31 Gray hair is a crown of splendor; ( AU )
it is attained in the way of righteousness.
32 Better a patient person than a warrior,
one with self-control than one who takes a city.
