CHAPTER 16

                ¹Man’s is the ordering of thought,

                    but from the LORD is the tongue’s pronouncing.

                ²All a man’s ways are pure in his eyes,

                    but the LORD takes the spirit’s measure.

                ³Turn over your deeds to the LORD,

                    that your plans may be firm-founded.

                ⁴Each act of the LORD has its own end;

                    even the wicked, for an evil day.

                ⁵The LORD’s loathing is every haughty man,

                    be sure of it, he will not go scot-free.

                ⁶In faithful kindness a crime is atoned,

                    and in the LORD’s fear one swerves from evil.

                ⁷When the LORD is pleased with the ways of a man,

                    even his enemies will make peace with him.

                ⁸Better a pittance in righteousness,

                    than abundant yield without justice.

                ⁹A man’s heart may plan his way,

                    but the LORD will make his step firm.

                ¹⁰There is magic on the lips of a king—

                    his mouth won’t betray in judgment.

                ¹¹A balance and just scale has the LORD,

                    all the weights in His purse are His work.

                ¹²Wicked acts are the loathing of kings,

                    for in righteousness a throne stands firm.

                ¹³Righteous lips are the pleasure of kings,

                    and they love an honest speaker.

                ¹⁴A king’s wrath is like death’s messengers,

                    but a wise man may appease it.

                ¹⁵In the light of a king’s face is life,

                    and his pleasure like a cloud with spring rain.

                ¹⁶Getting wisdom, how much better than gold,

                    to get discernment is choicer than silver.

                ¹⁷The uprights’ highway is to swerve from evil,

                    who guards his life will watch his way.

                ¹⁸Pride before a breakdown,

                    and before stumbling, haughtiness.

                ¹⁹Better abjectness with the humble

                    than sharing spoils with the proud.

                ²⁰Who looks into a matter will come out well,

                    and who trusts in the LORD is fortunate.

                ²¹The wise of heart will be called discerning,

                    and sweet speech will increase instruction.

                ²²Insight is a wellspring of life to its possessors,

                    but the reproof of the foolish is folly.

                ²³A wise man’s heart will make his mouth clever,

                    and lips’ sweetness increases instruction.

                ²⁴Pleasant sayings are honeycomb,

                    sweet to the palate, and healing to the bones.

                ²⁵There may be a straight way before a man,

                    but its end is the ways of death.

                ²⁶The toiler’s self toils away

                    because his own mouth has compelled him.

                ²⁷A worthless man is a furnace of evil,

                    and on his lips like burning fire.

                ²⁸A perverse man provokes a quarrel,

                    and a sullen man drives off a friend.

                ²⁹A lawless man gulls his companion

                    and leads him on a way that is not good.

                ³⁰He closes his eyes plotting perversions,

                    purses his lips and fixes on evil.

                ³¹Gray hair is a crown of splendor,

                    through righteousness attained.

                ³²Better patience than a warrior,

                    and who governs his spirit than a conqueror of towns.

                ³³In the lap the lot is cast,

                    but from the LORD is all the disposing.