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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Proverbs 16 ESV</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../cmenus/proverbs/16.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" 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href="../proverbs/15.htm" title="Proverbs 15">◄</a> Proverbs 16 <a href="../proverbs/17.htm" title="Proverbs 17">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top">English Standard Version</td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/p/esv/nas/proverbs/16.shtml" style="color:#001320" title="Parallel Chapters"> Par ▾ </a></tr></table></div></a><div class="chap"><p class="line-group"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/16-1.htm"><b>1</b></a></span><span class="ln-group">The plans of the heart belong to man,</span><br /><span class="indent">but the answer of the tongue is from the <span class="divine-name">Lord</span>.</span><br /> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/16-2.htm"><b>2</b></a></span><span class="ln-group">All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes,</span><br /><span class="indent">but the <span class="divine-name">Lord</span> weighs the spirit.<span class="footnote"><sup><a href="#footnotes" title="Or spirits">a</a></sup></span></span><br /> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/16-3.htm"><b>3</b></a></span><span class="ln-group">Commit your work to the <span class="divine-name">Lord</span>,</span><br /><span class="indent">and your plans will be established.</span><br /> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/16-4.htm"><b>4</b></a></span><span class="ln-group">The <span class="divine-name">Lord</span> has made everything for its purpose,</span><br /><span class="indent">even the wicked for the day of trouble.</span><br /> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/16-5.htm"><b>5</b></a></span><span class="ln-group">Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the <span class="divine-name">Lord</span>;</span><br /><span class="indent">be assured, he will not go unpunished.</span><br /> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/16-6.htm"><b>6</b></a></span><span class="ln-group">By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for,</span><br /><span class="indent">and by the fear of the <span class="divine-name">Lord</span> one turns away from evil.</span><br /> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/16-7.htm"><b>7</b></a></span><span class="ln-group">When a man’s ways please the <span class="divine-name">Lord</span>,</span><br /><span class="indent">he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.</span><br /> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/16-8.htm"><b>8</b></a></span><span class="ln-group">Better is a little with righteousness</span><br /><span class="indent">than great revenues with injustice.</span><br /> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/16-9.htm"><b>9</b></a></span><span class="ln-group">The heart of man plans his way,</span><br /><span class="indent">but the <span class="divine-name">Lord</span> establishes his steps.</span><br /> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/16-10.htm"><b>10</b></a></span><span class="ln-group">An oracle is on the lips of a king;</span><br /><span class="indent">his mouth does not sin in judgment.</span><br /> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/16-11.htm"><b>11</b></a></span><span class="ln-group">A just balance and scales are the <span class="divine-name">Lord</span>’s;</span><br /><span class="indent">all the weights in the bag are his work.</span><br /> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/16-12.htm"><b>12</b></a></span><span class="ln-group">It is an abomination to kings to do evil,</span><br /><span class="indent">for the throne is established by righteousness.</span><br /> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/16-13.htm"><b>13</b></a></span><span class="ln-group">Righteous lips are the delight of a king,</span><br /><span class="indent">and he loves him who speaks what is right.</span><br /> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/16-14.htm"><b>14</b></a></span><span class="ln-group">A king’s wrath is a messenger of death,</span><br /><span class="indent">and a wise man will appease it.</span><br /> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/16-15.htm"><b>15</b></a></span><span class="ln-group">In the light of a king’s face there is life,</span><br /><span class="indent">and his favor is like the clouds that bring the spring rain.</span><br /> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/16-16.htm"><b>16</b></a></span><span class="ln-group">How much better to get wisdom than gold!</span><br /><span class="indent">To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.</span><br /> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/16-17.htm"><b>17</b></a></span><span class="ln-group">The highway of the upright turns aside from evil;</span><br /><span class="indent">whoever guards his way preserves his life.</span><br /> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/16-18.htm"><b>18</b></a></span><span class="ln-group">Pride goes before destruction,</span><br /><span class="indent">and a haughty spirit before a fall.</span><br /> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/16-19.htm"><b>19</b></a></span><span class="ln-group">It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor</span><br /><span class="indent">than to divide the spoil with the proud.</span><br /> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/16-20.htm"><b>20</b></a></span><span class="ln-group">Whoever gives thought to the word<span class="footnote"><sup><a href="#footnotes" title="Or to a matter">b</a></sup></span> will discover good,</span><br /><span class="indent">and blessed is he who trusts in the <span class="divine-name">Lord</span>.</span><br /> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/16-21.htm"><b>21</b></a></span><span class="ln-group">The wise of heart is called discerning,</span><br /><span class="indent">and sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness.</span><br /> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/16-22.htm"><b>22</b></a></span><span class="ln-group">Good sense is a fountain of life to him who has it,</span><br /><span class="indent">but the instruction of fools is folly.</span><br /> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/16-23.htm"><b>23</b></a></span><span class="ln-group">The heart of the wise makes his speech judicious</span><br /><span class="indent">and adds persuasiveness to his lips.</span><br /> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/16-24.htm"><b>24</b></a></span><span class="ln-group">Gracious words are like a honeycomb,</span><br /><span class="indent">sweetness to the soul and health to the body.</span><br /> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/16-25.htm"><b>25</b></a></span><span class="ln-group">There is a way that seems right to a man,</span><br /><span class="indent">but its end is the way to death.<span class="footnote"><sup><a href="#footnotes" title="Hebrew ways of death">c</a></sup></span></span><br /> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/16-26.htm"><b>26</b></a></span><span class="ln-group">A worker’s appetite works for him;</span><br /><span class="indent">his mouth urges him on.</span><br /> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/16-27.htm"><b>27</b></a></span><span class="ln-group">A worthless man plots evil,</span><br /><span class="indent">and his speech<span class="footnote"><sup><a href="#footnotes" title="Hebrew what is on his lips">d</a></sup></span> is like a scorching fire.</span><br /> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/16-28.htm"><b>28</b></a></span><span class="ln-group">A dishonest man spreads strife,</span><br /><span class="indent">and a whisperer separates close friends.</span><br /> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/16-29.htm"><b>29</b></a></span><span class="ln-group">A man of violence entices his neighbor</span><br /><span class="indent">and leads him in a way that is not good.</span><br /> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/16-30.htm"><b>30</b></a></span><span class="ln-group">Whoever winks his eyes plans<span class="footnote"><sup><a href="#footnotes" title="Hebrew to plan">e</a></sup></span> dishonest things;</span><br /><span class="indent">he who purses his lips brings evil to pass.</span><br /> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/16-31.htm"><b>31</b></a></span><span class="ln-group">Gray hair is a crown of glory;</span><br /><span class="indent">it is gained in a righteous life.</span><br /> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/16-32.htm"><b>32</b></a></span><span class="ln-group">Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty,</span><br /><span class="indent">and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.</span><br /> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/16-33.htm"><b>33</b></a></span><span class="ln-group">The lot is cast into the lap,</span><br /><span class="indent">but its every decision is from the <span class="divine-name">Lord</span>.</span><br /><A name="footnotes"></a><hr size="1" color="DDEEFF"><span class="mainfootnotes"><span class="mainfootnoteshdg">Footnotes:</span><br><span class="footnotesbot">a</span> <span class="fnverse">2</span> Or <i>spirits</i><br /><span class="footnotesbot">b</span> <span class="fnverse">20</span> Or <i><span class="catch-word">to</span> a matter</i><br /><span class="footnotesbot">c</span> <span class="fnverse">25</span> Hebrew <i>ways of death</i><br /><span class="footnotesbot">d</span> <span class="fnverse">27</span> Hebrew <i>what is on his lips</i><br /><span class="footnotesbot">e</span> <span class="fnverse">30</span> Hebrew <i>to plan</i><br /></span></div></div><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center">ESV Text Edition® (2016).<br /><br />The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by <a href="http://www.crossway.org/home/esv/">Crossway Bibles</a>, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.<br /><br />The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) is adapted from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. 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