Proverbs 16

Berean Standard Bible

Chapter summary

Proverbs 16 states that human beings make plans and assess their own actions, but the Lord evaluates motives, determines steps, and controls the outcomes of decisions such as casting lots. The text addresses the responsibilities and behaviors of kings, noting that they issue divine verdicts, require honest scales, and are established through righteousness and truthful speech. It contrasts the consequences of pride and wicked behavior with the rewards of wisdom, understanding, humility, and the fear of the Lord. Furthermore, the chapter describes various character traits, detailing how a wise heart and pleasant speech bring life and healing, whereas perverse, gossip, and violent individuals spread dissension and evil.

Summary automatically generated from the Bible text.

Words of Jesus in red

¹The plans of the heart belong to man, but the reply of the tongue is from the LORD. ²All a man’s ways are pure in his own eyes, but his motives are weighed out by the LORD. ³Commit your works to the LORD and your plans will be achieved. ⁴The LORD has made everything for His purpose— even the wicked for the day of disaster. ⁵Everyone who is proud in heart is detestable to the LORD; be assured that he will not go unpunished. ⁶By loving devotion and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the LORD one turns aside from evil. ⁷When a man’s ways please the LORD, He makes even the man’s enemies live at peace with him. ⁸Better a little with righteousness than great gain with injustice. ⁹A man’s heart plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps. ¹⁰A divine verdict is on the lips of a king; his mouth must not betray justice. ¹¹Honest scales and balances are from the LORD; all the weights in the bag are His concern. ¹²Wicked behavior is detestable for kings, for a throne is established through righteousness. ¹³Righteous lips are a king’s delight, and he who speaks honestly is beloved. ¹⁴The wrath of a king is a messenger of death, but a wise man will pacify it. ¹⁵When a king’s face brightens, there is life; his favor is like a rain cloud in spring. ¹⁶How much better to acquire wisdom than gold! To gain understanding is more desirable than silver. ¹⁷The highway of the upright leads away from evil; he who guards his way protects his life. ¹⁸Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. ¹⁹It is better to be lowly in spirit among the humble than to divide the spoil with the proud. ²⁰Whoever heeds instruction will find success, and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD. ²¹The wise in heart are called discerning, and pleasant speech promotes instruction. ²²Understanding is a fountain of life to its possessor, but the discipline of fools is folly. ²³The heart of the wise man instructs his mouth and adds persuasiveness to his lips. ²⁴Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. ²⁵There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death. ²⁶A worker’s appetite works for him because his hunger drives him onward. ²⁷A worthless man digs up evil, and his speech is like a scorching fire. ²⁸A perverse man spreads dissension, and a gossip divides close friends. ²⁹A violent man entices his neighbor and leads him down a path that is not good. ³⁰He who winks his eye devises perversity; he who purses his lips is bent on evil. ³¹Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is attained along the path of righteousness. ³²He who is slow to anger is better than a warrior, and he who controls his temper is greater than one who captures a city. ³³The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.

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Louis Segond 1910 and Berean Standard Bible: public domain. Cross references: open-cross-ref, Creative Commons BY 4.0.