Proverbs 16:1-24 - Wisdom's Blessings Come From The Lord

¹ The reflections of the heart belong to man,
but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.

² All a man’s ways seem right to him,
but the Lord evaluates the motives.

³ Commit your activities to the Lord,
and your plans will be achieved.

⁴ The Lord has prepared everything for His purpose—
even the wicked for the day of disaster.

⁵ Everyone with a proud heart is detestable to the Lord;
be assured, he will not go unpunished.

⁶ Wickedness is atoned for by loyalty and faithfulness,
and one turns from evil by the fear of the Lord.

⁷ When a man’s ways please the Lord,
He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

⁸ Better a little with righteousness
than great income with injustice.

⁹ A man’s heart plans his way,
but the Lord determines his steps.

¹⁰ God’s verdict is on the lips of a king;
his mouth should not give an unfair judgment.

¹¹ Honest balances and scales are the Lord’s;
all the weights in the bag are His concern.

¹² Wicked behavior is detestable to kings,
since a throne is established through righteousness.

¹³ Righteous lips are a king’s delight,
and he loves one who speaks honestly.

¹⁴ A king’s fury is a messenger of death,
but a wise man appeases it.

¹⁵ When a king’s face lights up, there is life;
his favor is like a cloud with spring rain.

¹⁶ Get wisdom—
how much better it is than gold!
And get understanding—
it is preferable to silver.

¹⁷ The highway of the upright avoids evil;
the one who guards his way protects his life.

¹⁸ Pride comes before destruction,
and an arrogant spirit before a fall.

¹⁹ Better to be lowly of spirit with the humble
than to divide plunder with the proud.

²⁰ The one who understands a matter finds success,
and the one who trusts in the Lord will be happy.

²¹ Anyone with a wise heart is called discerning,
and pleasant speech increases learning.

²² Insight is a fountain of life for its possessor,
but the discipline of fools is folly.

²³ A wise heart instructs its mouth
and increases learning with its speech.

²⁴ Pleasant words are a honeycomb:
sweet to the taste and health to the body.