Proverbs 16 :: English Standard Version (ESV)

Pro 16:1

Pro 16:1The plans of the heart belong to man,
but the answer of the tongue is from the LORD.

Pro 16:2

Pro 16:2All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes,
but the LORD weighs the spirit.[fn]

Pro 16:3

Pro 16:3Commit your work to the LORD,
and your plans will be established.

Pro 16:4

Pro 16:4The LORD has made everything for its purpose,
even the wicked for the day of trouble.

Pro 16:5

Pro 16:5Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the LORD;
be assured, he will not go unpunished.

Pro 16:6

Pro 16:6By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for,
and by the fear of the LORD one turns away from evil.

Pro 16:7

Pro 16:7When a man’s ways please the LORD,
he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

Pro 16:8

Pro 16:8Better is a little with righteousness
than great revenues with injustice.

Pro 16:9

Pro 16:9The heart of man plans his way,
but the LORD establishes his steps.

Pro 16:10

Pro 16:10An oracle is on the lips of a king;
his mouth does not sin in judgment.

Pro 16:11

Pro 16:11A just balance and scales are the LORD’s;
all the weights in the bag are his work.

Pro 16:12

Pro 16:12It is an abomination to kings to do evil,
for the throne is established by righteousness.

Pro 16:13

Pro 16:13Righteous lips are the delight of a king,
and he loves him who speaks what is right.

Pro 16:14

Pro 16:14A king’s wrath is a messenger of death,
and a wise man will appease it.

Pro 16:15

Pro 16:15In the light of a king’s face there is life,
and his favor is like the clouds that bring the spring rain.

Pro 16:16

Pro 16:16How much better to get wisdom than gold!
To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.

Pro 16:17

Pro 16:17The highway of the upright turns aside from evil;
whoever guards his way preserves his life.

Pro 16:18

Pro 16:18Pride goes before destruction,
and a haughty spirit before a fall.

Pro 16:19

Pro 16:19It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor
than to divide the spoil with the proud.

Pro 16:20

Pro 16:20Whoever gives thought to the word[fn] will discover good,
and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD.

Pro 16:21

Pro 16:21The wise of heart is called discerning,
and sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness.

Pro 16:22

Pro 16:22Good sense is a fountain of life to him who has it,
but the instruction of fools is folly.

Pro 16:23

Pro 16:23The heart of the wise makes his speech judicious
and adds persuasiveness to his lips.

Pro 16:24

Pro 16:24Gracious words are like a honeycomb,
sweetness to the soul and health to the body.

Pro 16:25

Pro 16:25There is a way that seems right to a man,
but its end is the way to death.[fn]

Pro 16:26

Pro 16:26A worker’s appetite works for him;
his mouth urges him on.

Pro 16:27

Pro 16:27A worthless man plots evil,
and his speech[fn] is like a scorching fire.

Pro 16:28

Pro 16:28A dishonest man spreads strife,
and a whisperer separates close friends.

Pro 16:29

Pro 16:29A man of violence entices his neighbor
and leads him in a way that is not good.

Pro 16:30

Pro 16:30Whoever winks his eyes plans[fn] dishonest things;
he who purses his lips brings evil to pass.

Pro 16:31

Pro 16:31Gray hair is a crown of glory;
it is gained in a righteous life.

Pro 16:32

Pro 16:32Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty,
and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.

Pro 16:33

Pro 16:33The lot is cast into the lap,
but its every decision is from the LORD.

See the ESV Preface (Especially for Parenthesis, Brackets, & Asterisks).

ESV Footnotes

(16:2)

Or spirits

(16:20)

Or to a matter

(16:25)

Hebrew ways of death

(16:27)

Hebrew what is on his lips

(16:30)

Hebrew to plan

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version copyright © 2001, 2007, 2011, 2016 by Crossway Books and Bibles, a Publishing Ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

See detailed copyright information.

For more information on this translation, see the ESV Preface.

Proverbs Chapter 16 — Additional Translations:

King James Version New King James Version New Living Translation New International Version Christian Standard Bible New American Standard Bible 2020 New American Standard Bible 1995 Legacy Standard Bible Amplified Bible New English Translation Revised Standard Version American Standard Version Young's Literal Translation Darby Translation Webster's Bible Hebrew Names Version Latin Vulgate Westminster Leningrad Codex Septuagint Smith Van Dyck Arabic Bible Open New Arabic Version Brenton's English Septuagint Reina Valera 1909 Reina-Valera 1960 Bible in Basic English Chinese Traditional Union Espanol Moderno Korean Holy Bible Louis Segond German Luther Russian Synodal Translation Sagradas Escrituras

Proverbs 16 :: English Standard Version (ESV)

ESV Footnotes

Proverbs Chapter 16 — Additional Translations:

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