Proverbs

¹ The reflections of the heart belong to mankind, but the answer of the tongue is from the LORD.

² All a person’s ways seem right to him, but the LORD weighs motives.

³ Commit your activities to the LORD, and your plans will be established.

⁴ The LORD has prepared everything for his purpose — even the wicked for the day of disaster.

⁵ Everyone with a proud heart is detestable to the LORD; be assured, he will not go unpunished.

⁶ Iniquity is atoned for by loyalty and faithfulness, and one turns from evil by the fear of the LORD.

⁷ When a person’s ways please the LORD, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

⁸ Better a little with righteousness than great income with injustice.

⁹ A person’s heart plans his way, but the LORD determines his steps.

¹⁰ God’s verdict is on the lips of a king; his mouth should not give an unfair judgment.

¹¹ Honest balances and scales are the LORD’s; all the weights in the bag are his concern.

¹² Wicked behavior is detestable to kings, since a throne is established through righteousness.

¹³ Righteous lips are a king’s delight, and he loves one who speaks honestly.

¹⁴ A king’s fury is a messenger of death, but a wise person appeases it.

¹⁵ When a king’s face lights up, there is life; his favor is like a cloud with spring rain.

¹⁶ Get wisdom — how much better it is than gold! And get understanding — it is preferable to silver.

¹⁷ The highway of the upright avoids evil; the one who guards his way protects his life.

¹⁸ Pride comes before destruction, and an arrogant spirit before a fall.

¹⁹ Better to be lowly of spirit with the humble than to divide plunder with the proud.

²⁰ The one who understands a matter finds success, and the one who trusts in the LORD will be happy.

²¹ Anyone with a wise heart is called discerning, and pleasant speech increases learning.

²² Insight is a fountain of life for its possessor, but the discipline of fools is folly.

²³ The heart of a wise person instructs his mouth; it adds learning to his speech.

²⁴ Pleasant words are a honeycomb: sweet to the taste and health to the body.

²⁵ There is a way that seems right to a person, but its end is the way to death.

²⁶ A worker’s appetite works for him because his hunger urges him on.

²⁷ A worthless person digs up evil, and his speech is like a scorching fire.

²⁸ A contrary person spreads conflict, and a gossip separates close friends.

²⁹ A violent person lures his neighbor, leading him on a path that is not good.

³⁰ The one who narrows his eyes is planning deceptions; the one who compresses his lips brings about evil.

³¹ Gray hair is a glorious crown; it is found in the ways of righteousness.

³² Patience is better than power, and controlling one’s emotions, than capturing a city.

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