Proverbs, starting at chapter 16
{16:1} The plans of the heart belong to man,
but the answer of the tongue is from the LORD.
{16:2} All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes;
but the LORD weighs the motives.
{16:3} Commit your deeds to the LORD,
and your plans shall succeed.
{16:4} The LORD has made everything for its own end--
yes, even the wicked for the day of evil.
{16:5} Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD:
they shall certainly not be unpunished.
{16:6} By mercy and truth iniquity is atoned for.
By the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.
{16:7} When a man's ways please the LORD,
he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
{16:8} Better is a little with righteousness,
than great revenues with injustice.
{16:9} A man's heart plans his course,
but the LORD directs his steps.
{16:10} Inspired judgments are on the lips of the king.
He shall not betray his mouth.
{16:11} Honest balances and scales are the LORD's;
all the weights in the bag are his work.
{16:12} It is an abomination for kings to do wrong,
for the throne is established by righteousness.
{16:13} Righteous lips are the delight of kings.
They value one who speaks the truth.
{16:14} The king's wrath is a messenger of death,
but a wise man will pacify it.
{16:15} In the light of the king's face is life.
His favor is like a cloud of the spring rain.
{16:16} How much better it is to get wisdom than gold!
Yes, to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.
{16:17} The highway of the upright is to depart from evil.
He who keeps his way preserves his soul.
{16:18} Pride goes before destruction,
and a haughty spirit before a fall.
{16:19} It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor,
than to divide the plunder with the proud.
{16:20} He who heeds the Word finds prosperity.
Whoever trusts in the LORD is blessed.
{16:21} The wise in heart shall be called prudent.
Pleasantness of the lips promotes instruction.
{16:22} Understanding is a fountain of life to one who has it,
but the punishment of fools is their folly.
{16:23} The heart of the wise instructs his mouth,
and adds learning to his lips.
{16:24} Pleasant words are a honeycomb,
sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
{16:25} There is a way which seems right to a man,
but in the end it leads to death.
{16:26} The appetite of the laboring man labors for him;
for his mouth urges him on.
{16:27} A worthless man devises mischief.
His speech is like a scorching fire.
{16:28} A perverse man stirs up strife.
A whisperer separates close friends.
{16:29} A man of violence entices his neighbor,
and leads him in a way that is not good.
{16:30} One who winks his eyes to plot perversities,
one who compresses his lips, is bent on evil.
{16:31} Gray hair is a crown of glory.
It is attained by a life of righteousness.
{16:32} One who is slow to anger is better than the mighty;
one who rules his spirit, than he who takes a city.
{16:33} The lot is cast into the lap,
but its every decision is from the LORD.
{17:1} Better is a dry morsel with quietness,
than a house full of feasting with strife.
{17:2} A servant who deals wisely will rule over a son who causes
shame,
and shall have a part in the inheritance among the brothers.
{17:3} The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold,
but the LORD tests the hearts.
{17:4} An evil-doer heeds wicked lips.
A liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.
{17:5} Whoever mocks the poor reproaches his Maker.
He who is glad at calamity shall not be unpunished.
{17:6} Children's children are the crown of old men;
the glory of children are their parents.
{17:7} Arrogant speech isn't fitting for a fool,
much less do lying lips fit a prince.
{17:8} A bribe is a precious stone in the eyes of him who gives it;
wherever he turns, he prospers.
{17:9} He who covers an offense promotes love;
but he who repeats a matter separates best friends.
{17:10} A rebuke enters deeper into one who has understanding
than a hundred lashes into a fool.
{17:11} An evil man seeks only rebellion;
therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
{17:12} Let a bear robbed of her cubs meet a man,
rather than a fool in his folly.
{17:13} Whoever rewards evil for good,
evil shall not depart from his house.
{17:14} The beginning of strife is like breaching a dam,
therefore stop contention before quarreling breaks out.
{17:15} He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the righteous,
both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.
{17:16} Why is there money in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom,
seeing he has no understanding?
{17:17} A friend loves at all times;
and a brother is born for adversity.
{17:18} A man void of understanding strikes hands,
and becomes collateral in the presence of his neighbor.
{17:19} He who loves disobedience loves strife.
One who builds a high gate seeks destruction.
{17:20} One who has a perverse heart doesn't find prosperity,
and one who has a deceitful tongue falls into trouble.
{17:21} He who becomes the father of a fool grieves.
The father of a fool has no joy.
{17:22} A cheerful heart makes good medicine,
but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
{17:23} A wicked man receives a bribe in secret,
to pervert the ways of justice.
{17:24} Wisdom is before the face of one who has understanding,
but the eyes of a fool wander to the ends of the earth.
{17:25} A foolish son brings grief to his father,
and bitterness to her who bore him.
{17:26} Also to punish the righteous is not good,
nor to flog officials for their integrity.
{17:27} He who spares his words has knowledge.
He who is even tempered is a man of understanding.
{17:28} Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is counted wise.
When he shuts his lips, he is thought to be discerning.
{18:1} An unfriendly man pursues selfishness,
and defies all sound judgment.
{18:2} A fool has no delight in understanding,
but only in revealing his own opinion.
{18:3} When wickedness comes, contempt also comes,
and with shame comes disgrace.
{18:4} The words of a man's mouth are like deep waters.
The fountain of wisdom is like a flowing brook.
{18:5} To be partial to the faces of the wicked is not good,
nor to deprive the innocent of justice.
{18:6} A fool's lips come into strife,
and his mouth invites beatings.
{18:7} A fool's mouth is his destruction,
and his lips are a snare to his soul.
{18:8} The words of a gossip are like dainty morsels:
they go down into a person's innermost parts.
{18:9} One who is slack in his work
is brother to him who is a master of destruction.
{18:10} The name of the LORD is a strong tower:
the righteous run to him, and are safe.
{18:11} The rich man's wealth is his strong city,
like an unscalable wall in his own imagination.
{18:12} Before destruction the heart of man is proud,
but before honor is humility.
{18:13} He who gives answer before he hears,
that is folly and shame to him.
{18:14} A man's spirit will sustain him in sickness,
but a crushed spirit, who can bear?
{18:15} The heart of the discerning gets knowledge.
The ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
{18:16} A man's gift makes room for him,
and brings him before great men.
{18:17} He who pleads his cause first seems right;
until another comes and questions him.
{18:18} The lot settles disputes,
and keeps strong ones apart.
{18:19} A brother offended is more difficult than a fortified city;
and disputes are like the bars of a castle.
{18:20} A man's stomach is filled with the fruit of his mouth.
With the harvest of his lips he is satisfied.
{18:21} Death and life are in the power of the tongue;
those who love it will eat its fruit.
{18:22} Whoever finds a wife finds a good thing,
and obtains favor of the LORD.
{18:23} The poor plead for mercy,
but the rich answer harshly.
{18:24} A man of many companions may be ruined,
but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
___
This Bible reading mailing list and web site are paid for by donations
marked "HNV project" and payable to:
Rainbow Missions
PO BOX 275
MESA CO 81643-0275
To cancel your free email subscription, please send
email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with
unsubscribe hnv
in the body of the message OR go to http://ebible.org/subscribe.htm
