Proverbs 16
2 All the works of the humble
man are manifest with God; but the ungodly shall
perish in an evil day. 5 Every one
that is proud in heart is unclean before God, and he that unjustly strikes
hands with hand shall not be held guiltless.
7 The beginning of a good way is to do
justly; and it is more acceptable with God than to offer sacrifices.
8 He that seeks the Lord shall find
knowledge with righteousness: and they that rightly seek him shall find peace.
9 All the works of the Lord
are done with righteousness; and the ungodly
man is kept for the evil day.
10 There is an oracle upon the lips of a king; and his
mouth shall not err in judgment.
11 The poise of the balance is
righteousness with the Lord; and his works are righteous measures.
12 An evil-doer is an abomination to
a king; for the throne of rule is established by righteousness.
13 Righteous lips are acceptable to a
king; and he loves right words.
14 The anger of a king is a messenger
of death; but a wise man will pacify him.
15 The son of a king is in the light
of life; and they that are in favour with him are as a cloud of latter rain.
16 The
aOr, Abodes. Comp. Heb. See Luke 13. 35.brood of wisdom is more to be chosen than gold, and the brood of prudence
more to be chosen than silver. 17 The
paths of life turn aside from evil; and the ways of righteousness are length
of life. He that receives instruction shall be in prosperity; and he that
regards reproofs shall be made wise. He that keeps his ways, preserves his own
soul; and he that loves his life will spare his mouth.
18 Pride goes before destruction, and
folly before a fall. 19 Better is a
meek-spirited man with
bOr, affliction.lowliness, than one who divides spoils with the proud.
20 He who is skilful in business finds good: but he
that trusts in God is most blessed.
21 Men call
the wise and understanding evil: but they that are pleasing in speech shall
hear more. 22 Understanding is a
fountain of life to its possessors; but the instruction of fools is evil.
23 The heart of the wise will discern
the things which proceed from his own mouth; and on
his lips he will wear knowledge.
24 Good words are honeycombs, and the
sweetness thereof is a healing of the soul.
25 There are ways that seem to be
right to a man, but the end of them looks to the depth of hell.
26 A man who labours, labours for
himself, and drives from him his own ruin.
27 But the perverse bears destruction
upon his own mouth: a foolish man digs up evil for himself, and treasures fire
on his own lips. 28 A perverse man
spreads mischief, and will kindle a torch of deceit with mischiefs; and he
separates friends. 29 A transgressor
tries to ensnare friends, and leads them in ways
that are not good.
30 And the man that fixes his eyes
devises perverse things, and marks out with his lips all evils: he is a
furnace of wickedness. 31 Old age is
a crown of
cGr. boasting.honour, but it is found in the ways of righteousness.
32 A man slow to anger is better than
a strong man; and he that governs
his temper better than he that takes a city.
33 All
evils come upon the ungodly into
their bosoms; but all righteous things
come of the Lord.