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The Proverbs

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- Chapter 16 -

The Lord and the ways of men

1
It is for man to prepare the soul, and for the Lord to govern the tongue.(a) (b)
2
All the ways of a man are open to his eyes; the Lord is the one who weighs spirits.
3
Open your works to the Lord, and your intentions will be set in order.
4
The Lord has wrought all things because of himself. Likewise the impious is for the evil day.
5
All the arrogant are an abomination to the Lord. Even if hand will be joined to hand, he is not innocent. The beginning of a good way is to do justice. And this is more acceptable with God than to immolate sacrifices.
6
By mercy and truth, iniquity is redeemed. And by the fear of the Lord, one turns away from evil.
7
When the ways of man will please the Lord, he will convert even his enemies to peace.
8
Better is a little with justice, than many fruits with iniquity.
9
The heart of man disposes his way. But it is for Lord to direct his steps.
10
Foreknowledge is in the lips of the king. His mouth shall not err in judgment.
11
Weights and scales are judgments of the Lord. And all the stones in the bag are his work.

Wisdom - the source of life

12
Those who act impiously are abominable to the king. For the throne is made firm by justice.
13
Just lips are the will of kings. He who speaks honestly shall be loved.(c)
14
The indignation of a king is a herald of death. And the wise man will appease it.
15
In the cheerfulness of the king’s countenance, there is life. And his clemency is like belated rain.
16
Possess wisdom, for it is better than gold. And acquire prudence, for it is more precious than silver.(d)
17
The path of the just turns away from evils. He who guards his soul preserves his way.
18
Arrogance precedes destruction. And the spirit is exalted before a fall.
19
It is better to be humbled with the meek, than to divide spoils with the arrogant.
20
The learned in word shall find good things. And whoever hopes in the Lord is blessed.
21
Whoever is wise in heart shall be called prudent. And whoever is sweet in eloquence shall attain to what is greater.
22
Learning is a fountain of life to one who possesses it. The doctrine of the foolish is senseless.
23
The heart of the wise shall instruct his mouth and add grace to his lips.
24
Careful words are a honeycomb: sweet to the soul and healthful to the bones.

The wicked and deceitful man

25
There is a way which seems right to a man, and its end result leads to death.
26
The soul of the laborer labors for himself, because his mouth has driven him to it.
27
The impious man digs up evil, and in his lips is a burning fire.
28
A perverse man stirs up lawsuits. And one who is verbose divides leaders.
29
A man of iniquity entices his friend, and he leads him along a way that is not good.
30
Whoever, with astonished eyes, thinks up depravities, biting his lips, accomplishes evil.
31
Old age is a crown of dignity, when it is found in the ways of justice.
32
A patient man is better than a strong one. And whoever rules his soul is better than one who assaults cities.
33
Lots are cast into the lap, but they are tempered by the Lord.

Footnotes

(a)16:1 Again, the genitive case is not always possessive and is not always to be translated as ‘of.’(Conte)
(b)16:1 It is the part of man, etc:That is, a man should prepare in his heart and soul what he is to say: but after all, it must be the Lord that must govern his tongue, to speak to the purpose. Not that we can think any thing of good without God’s grace; but that after we have (with God’s grace) thought and prepared within our souls what we would speak, if God does not govern our tongue, we shall not succeed in what we speak.(Challoner)
(c)16:13 Or, who speaks forthrightly or directly or honestly.(Conte)
(d)16:16 Prudence is found in the practical application of wisdom.(Conte)

The Lord and the ways of men

1
The 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 clean in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the motives.
3
Commit your deeds to the LORD, and your plans shall succeed.
4
The LORD has made everything for its own end— yes, even the wicked for the day of evil.
5
Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD; they shall certainly not be unpunished.
6
By mercy and truth iniquity is atoned for. By the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.
7
When 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
A man’s heart plans his course, but the LORD directs his steps.
10
Inspired judgments are on the lips of the king. He shall not betray his mouth.
11
Honest balances and scales are the LORD’s; all the weights in the bag are his work.

Wisdom - the source of life

12
It is an abomination for kings to do wrong, for the throne is established by righteousness.
13
Righteous lips are the delight of kings. They value one who speaks the truth.
14
The king’s wrath is a messenger of death, but a wise man will pacify it.
15
In the light of the king’s face is life. His favor is like a cloud of the spring rain.
16
How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! Yes, to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.
17
The highway of the upright is to depart from evil. He who keeps his way preserves his soul.
18
Pride goes before destruction, and an arrogant spirit before a fall.
19
It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor, than to divide the plunder with the proud.
20
He who heeds the Word finds prosperity. Whoever trusts in the LORD is blessed.
21
The wise in heart shall be called prudent. Pleasantness of the lips promotes instruction.
22
Understanding is a fountain of life to one who has it, but the punishment of fools is their folly.
23
The heart of the wise instructs his mouth, and adds learning to his lips.
24
Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.

The wicked and deceitful man

25
There is a way which seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.
26
The appetite of the laboring man labors for him, for his mouth urges him on.
27
A worthless man devises mischief. His speech is like a scorching fire.
28
A perverse man stirs up strife. A whisperer separates close friends.
29
A man of violence entices his neighbor, and leads him in a way that is not good.
30
One who winks his eyes to plot perversities, one who compresses his lips, is bent on evil.
31
Gray hair is a crown of glory. It is attained by a life of righteousness.
32
One who is slow to anger is better than the mighty; one 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.
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