Proverbs 16

Mortals make elaborate plans,
    but God has the last word.

We can make our own plans,
    but the Lord gives the right answer.

Humans are satisfied with whatever looks good;
    God probes for what is good.

People may be pure in their own eyes,
    but the Lord examines their motives.

Put God in charge of your work,
    then what you’ve planned will take place.

Commit your actions to the Lord,
    and your plans will succeed.

God made everything with a place and purpose;
    even the wicked are included—but for judgment.

The Lord has made everything for his own purposes,
    even the wicked for a day of disaster.

God can’t stomach arrogance or pretense;
    believe me, he’ll put those upstarts in their place.

The Lord detests the proud;
    they will surely be punished.

Guilt is banished through love and truth;
    Fear-of-God deflects evil.

Unfailing love and faithfulness make atonement for sin.
    By fearing the Lord, people avoid evil.

When God approves of your life,
    even your enemies will end up shaking your hand.

When people’s lives please the Lord,
    even their enemies are at peace with them.

Far better to be right and poor
    than to be wrong and rich.

Better to have little, with godliness,
    than to be rich and dishonest.

We plan the way we want to live,
    but only God makes us able to live it.

We can make our plans,
    but the Lord determines our steps.

A good leader motivates,
    doesn’t mislead, doesn’t exploit.

The king speaks with divine wisdom;
    he must never judge unfairly.

God cares about honesty in the workplace;
    your business is his business.

The Lord demands accurate scales and balances;
    he sets the standards for fairness.

Good leaders abhor wrongdoing of all kinds;
    sound leadership has a moral foundation.

A king detests wrongdoing,
    for his rule is built on justice.

Good leaders cultivate honest speech;
    they love advisors who tell them the truth.

The king is pleased with words from righteous lips;
    he loves those who speak honestly.

An intemperate leader wreaks havoc in lives;
    you’re smart to stay clear of someone like that.

The anger of the king is a deadly threat;
    the wise will try to appease it.

Good-tempered leaders invigorate lives;
    they’re like spring rain and sunshine.

When the king smiles, there is life;
    his favor refreshes like a spring rain.

Get wisdom—it’s worth more than money;
    choose insight over income every time.

How much better to get wisdom than gold,
    and good judgment than silver!

The road of right living bypasses evil;
    watch your step and save your life.

The path of the virtuous leads away from evil;
    whoever follows that path is safe.

First pride, then the crash—
    the bigger the ego, the harder the fall.

Pride goes before destruction,
    and haughtiness before a fall.

It’s better to live humbly among the poor
    than to live it up among the rich and famous.

Better to live humbly with the poor
    than to share plunder with the proud.

It pays to take life seriously;
    things work out when you trust in God.

Those who listen to instruction will prosper;
    those who trust the Lord will be joyful.

A wise person gets known for insight;
    gracious words add to one’s reputation.

The wise are known for their understanding,
    and pleasant words are persuasive.

True intelligence is a spring of fresh water,
    while fools sweat it out the hard way.

Discretion is a life-giving fountain to those who possess it,
    but discipline is wasted on fools.

They make a lot of sense, these wise folks;
    whenever they speak, their reputation increases.

From a wise mind comes wise speech;
    the words of the wise are persuasive.

Gracious speech is like clover honey—
    good taste to the soul, quick energy for the body.

Kind words are like honey—
    sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.

There’s a way that looks harmless enough;
    look again—it leads straight to hell.

There is a path before each person that seems right,
    but it ends in death.

Appetite is an incentive to work;
    hunger makes you work all the harder.

It is good for workers to have an appetite;
    an empty stomach drives them on.

Mean people spread mean gossip;
    their words smart and burn.

Scoundrels create trouble;
    their words are a destructive blaze.

Troublemakers start fights;
    gossips break up friendships.

A troublemaker plants seeds of strife;
    gossip separates the best of friends.

Calloused climbers betray their very own friends;
    they’d stab their own grandmothers in the back.

Violent people mislead their companions,
    leading them down a harmful path.

A shifty eye betrays an evil intention;
    a clenched jaw signals trouble ahead.

With narrowed eyes, people plot evil;
    with a smirk, they plan their mischief.

Gray hair is a mark of distinction,
    the award for a God-loyal life.

Gray hair is a crown of glory;
    it is gained by living a godly life.

Moderation is better than muscle,
    self-control better than political power.

Better to be patient than powerful;
    better to have self-control than to conquer a city.

Make your motions and cast your votes,
    but God has the final say.