1People make plans in their hearts.
But the Lord puts the correct answer on their tongues.
2Everything a person does might seem pure to them.
But the Lord knows why they do what they do.
3Commit to the Lord everything you do.
Then he will make your plans succeed.
4The Lord works everything out to the proper end.
Even those who do wrong were made for a day of trouble.
5The Lord hates all those who have proud hearts.
You can be sure that they will be punished.
6Through love and truth sin is paid for.
People avoid evil when they have respect for the Lord.
7When the way you live pleases the Lord,
he makes even your enemies live at peace with you.
8It is better to have a little and do right
than to have a lot and be unfair.
9In their hearts human beings plan their lives.
But the Lord decides where their steps will take them.
10A king speaks as if his words come from God.
And what he says does not turn right into wrong.
11Honest scales and balances belong to the Lord.
He made all the weights in the bag.
12A king hates it when his people do what is wrong.
A ruler is made secure when they do what is right.
13Kings are pleased when what you say is honest.
They value people who speak what is right.
14An angry king can order your death.
But a wise person will try to calm him down.
15When a king’s face is happy, it means life.
His favor is like rain in the spring.
16It is much better to get wisdom than gold.
It is much better to choose understanding than silver.
17The path of honest people takes them away from evil.
Those who guard their ways guard their lives.
18If you are proud, you will be destroyed.
If you are proud, you will fall.
19Suppose you are lowly in spirit along with those who are treated badly.
That’s better than sharing stolen goods with those who are proud.
20If anyone pays attention to what they’re taught, they will succeed.
Blessed is the person who trusts in the Lord.
21Wise hearts are known for understanding what is right.
Kind words make people want to learn more.
22Understanding is like a fountain of life to those who have it.
But foolish people are punished for the foolish things they do.
23The hearts of wise people guide their mouths.
Their words make people want to learn more.
24Kind words are like honey.
They are sweet to the spirit and bring healing to the body.
25There is a way that appears to be right.
But in the end it leads to death.
26The hunger of workers makes them work.
Their hunger drives them on.
27A worthless person plans to do evil things.
Their words are like a burning fire.
28A twisted person stirs up conflict.
Anyone who talks about others separates close friends.
29A person who wants to hurt others tries to get them to sin.
That person leads them down a path that isn’t good.
30Whoever winks with their eye is planning to do wrong.
Whoever closes their lips tightly is up to no good.
31Gray hair is a glorious crown.
You get it by living the right way.
32It is better to be patient than to fight.
It is better to control your temper than to take a city.
33Lots are cast into the lap to make decisions.
But everything they decide comes from the Lord.
1To humans belong the plans of the heart,
but from the Lord comes the proper answer of the tongue.
2All a person’s ways seem pure to them,
but motives are weighed by the Lord.
3Commit to the Lord whatever you do,
and he will establish your plans.
4The Lord works out everything to its proper end –
even the wicked for a day of disaster.
5The Lord detests all the proud of heart.
Be sure of this: they will not go unpunished.
6Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for;
through the fear of the Lord evil is avoided.
7When the Lord takes pleasure in anyone’s way,
he causes their enemies to make peace with them.
8Better a little with righteousness
than much gain with injustice.
9In their hearts humans plan their course,
but the Lord establishes their steps.
10The lips of a king speak as an oracle,
and his mouth does not betray justice.
11Honest scales and balances belong to the Lord;
all the weights in the bag are of his making.
12Kings detest wrongdoing,
for a throne is established through righteousness.
13Kings take pleasure in honest lips;
they value the one who speaks what is right.
14A king’s wrath is a messenger of death,
but the wise will appease it.
15When a king’s face brightens, it means life;
his favour is like a rain cloud in spring.
16How much better to get wisdom than gold,
to get insight rather than silver!
17The highway of the upright avoids evil;
those who guard their ways preserve their lives.
18Pride goes before destruction,
a haughty spirit before a fall.
19Better to be lowly in spirit along with the oppressed
than to share plunder with the proud.
20Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers,16:20 Or whoever speaks prudently finds what is good
and blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord.
21The wise in heart are called discerning,
and gracious words promote instruction.16:21 Or words make a person persuasive
22Prudence is a fountain of life to the prudent,
but folly brings punishment to fools.
23The hearts of the wise make their mouths prudent,
and their lips promote instruction.16:23 Or prudent / and make their lips persuasive
24Gracious words are a honeycomb,
sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.
25There is a way that appears to be right,
but in the end it leads to death.
26The appetite of labourers works for them;
their hunger drives them on.
27A scoundrel plots evil,
and on their lips it is like a scorching fire.
28A perverse person stirs up conflict,
and a gossip separates close friends.
29A violent person entices their neighbour
and leads them down a path that is not good.
30Whoever winks with their eye is plotting perversity;
whoever purses their lips is bent on evil.
31Grey hair is a crown of splendour;
it is attained in the way of righteousness.
32Better a patient person than a warrior,
one with self-control than one who takes a city.
33The lot is cast into the lap,
but its every decision is from the Lord.
