Proverbs 16:1-24 - Wisdom's Blessings Come From The Lord
1 The intentions of the heart belong to a man, but the answer of the tongue comes from the Lord.
2 All a person's ways seem right in his own opinion, but the Lord evaluates the motives.
3 Commit your works to the Lord, and your plans will be established.
4 The Lord works everything for its own ends -- even the wicked for the day of disaster.
5 The Lord abhors every arrogant person; rest assured that they will not go unpunished.
6 Through loyal love and truth iniquity is appeased; through fearing the Lord one avoids evil.
7 When a person's ways are pleasing to the Lord, he even reconciles his enemies to himself.
8 Better to have a little with righteousness than to have abundant income without justice.
9 A person plans his course, but the Lord directs his steps.
10 The divine verdict is in the words of the king, his pronouncements must not act treacherously against justice.
11 Honest scales and balances are from the Lord; all the weights in the bag are his handiwork.
12 Doing wickedness is an abomination to kings, because a throne is established in righteousness.
13 The delight of kings is righteous counsel, and they love the one who speaks uprightly.
14 A king's wrath is like a messenger of death, but a wise person appeases it.
15 In the light of the king's face there is life, and his favor is like the clouds of the spring rain.
16 How much better it is to acquire wisdom than gold; to acquire understanding is more desirable than silver.
17 The highway of the upright is to turn away from evil; the one who guards his way safeguards his life.
18 Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
19 It is better to be lowly in spirit with the afflicted than to share the spoils with the proud.
20 The one who deals wisely in a matter will find success, and blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord.
21 The one who is wise in heart is called discerning, and kind speech increases persuasiveness.
22 Insight is like a life-giving fountain to the one who possesses it, but folly leads to the discipline of fools.
23 A wise person's heart makes his speech wise and it adds persuasiveness to his words.
24 Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.