| Chapter 16 |
1 | The designs of the heart are man's, but the answer of the tongue comes from the Lord. |
2 | All a man's ways are clean to himself; but the Lord puts men's spirits into his scales. |
3 | Put your works into the hands of the Lord, and your purposes will be made certain. |
4 | The Lord has made everything for his purpose, even the sinner for the day of evil. |
5 | Everyone who has pride in his heart is disgusting to the Lord: he will certainly not go free from punishment. |
6 | By mercy and good faith evil-doing is taken away: and by the fear of the Lord men are turned away from evil. |
7 | When a man's ways are pleasing to the Lord, he makes even his haters be at peace with him. |
8 | Better is a little with righteousness, than great wealth with wrongdoing. |
9 | A man may make designs for his way, but the Lord is the guide of his steps. |
10 | Decision is in the lips of the king: his mouth will not go wrong in judging. |
11 | True measures and scales are the Lord's: all the weights of the bag are his work. |
12 | Evil-doing is disgusting to kings: for the seat of the ruler is based on righteousness. |
13 | Lips of righteousness are the delight of kings; and he who says what is upright is dear to him. |
14 | The wrath of the king is like those who give news of death, but a wise man will put peace in place of it. |
15 | In the light of the king's face there is life; and his approval is like a cloud of spring rain. |
16 | How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! and to get knowledge is more to be desired than silver. |
17 | The highway of the upright is to be turned away from evil: he who takes care of his way will keep his soul. |
18 | Pride goes before destruction, and a stiff spirit before a fall. |
19 | Better it is to have a gentle spirit with the poor, than to take part in the rewards of war with men of pride. |
20 | He who gives attention to the law of right will get good; and whoever puts his faith in the Lord is happy. |
21 | The wise-hearted will be named men of good sense: and by pleasing words learning is increased. |
22 | Wisdom is a fountain of life to him who has it; but the punishment of the foolish is their foolish behaviour. |
23 | The heart of the wise man is the teacher of his mouth, and gives increased learning to his lips. |
24 | Pleasing words are like honey, sweet to the soul and new life to the bones. |
25 | There is a way which seems straight before a man, but its end is the ways of death. |
26 | The desire of the working man is working for him, for his need of food is driving him on. |
27 | A good-for-nothing man is a designer of evil, and in his lips there is a burning fire. |
28 | A man of twisted purposes is a cause of fighting everywhere: and he who says evil secretly makes trouble between friends. |
29 | A violent man puts desire of evil into his neighbour's mind, and makes him go in a way which is not good. |
30 | He whose eyes are shut is a man of twisted purposes, and he who keeps his lips shut tight makes evil come about. |
31 | The grey head is a crown of glory, if it is seen in the way of righteousness. |
32 | He who is slow to be angry is better than a man of war, and he who has control over his spirit than he who takes a town. |
33 | A thing may be put to the decision of chance, but it comes about through the Lord. |