Study

16. Proverbs of Solomon

    ² All a person’s ways seem pure to them,
   but motives are weighed by the LORD.

    ³ Commit to the LORD whatever you do,
   and he will establish your plans.

    ⁴ The LORD works out everything to its proper end—
   even the wicked for a day of disaster.

    ⁵ The LORD detests all the proud of heart.
   Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.

    ⁶ Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for;
   through the fear of the LORD evil is avoided.

    ⁷ When the LORD takes pleasure in anyone’s way,
   he causes their enemies to make peace with them.

    ⁸ Better a little with righteousness
   than much gain with injustice.

    ⁹ In their hearts humans plan their course,
   but the LORD establishes their steps.

    ¹⁰ The lips of a king speak as an oracle,
   and his mouth does not betray justice.

    ¹¹ Honest scales and balances belong to the LORD;
   all the weights in the bag are of his making.

    ¹² Kings detest wrongdoing,
   for a throne is established through righteousness.

    ¹³ Kings take pleasure in honest lips;
   they value the one who speaks what is right.

    ¹⁴ A king’s wrath is a messenger of death,
   but the wise will appease it.

    ¹⁵ When a king’s face brightens, it means life;
   his favor is like a rain cloud in spring.

    ¹⁶ How much better to get wisdom than gold,
   to get insight rather than silver!

    ¹⁷ The highway of the upright avoids evil;
   those who guard their ways preserve their lives.

    ¹⁸ Pride goes before destruction,
   a haughty spirit before a fall.

    ¹⁹ Better to be lowly in spirit along with the oppressed
   than to share plunder with the proud.

    ²⁰ Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, Or whoever speaks prudently finds what is good
   and blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD.

    ²¹ The wise in heart are called discerning,
   and gracious words promote instruction. Or words make a person persuasive

    ²² Prudence is a fountain of life to the prudent,
   but folly brings punishment to fools.

    ²³ The hearts of the wise make their mouths prudent,
   and their lips promote instruction. Or prudent / and make their lips persuasive

    ²⁴ Gracious words are a honeycomb,
   sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

    ²⁵ There is a way that appears to be right,
   but in the end it leads to death.

    ²⁶ The appetite of laborers works for them;
   their hunger drives them on.

    ²⁷ A scoundrel plots evil,
   and on their lips it is like a scorching fire.

    ²⁸ A perverse person stirs up conflict,
   and a gossip separates close friends.

    ²⁹ A violent person entices their neighbor
   and leads them down a path that is not good.

    ³⁰ Whoever winks with their eye is plotting perversity;
   whoever purses their lips is bent on evil.

    ³¹ Gray hair is a crown of splendor;
   it is attained in the way of righteousness.

    ³² Better a patient person than a warrior,
   one with self-control than one who takes a city.

    ³³ The lot is cast into the lap,
   but its every decision is from the LORD.