1 The plans of the heart belong to a person, but from Yahweh comes the answer from his tongue. 2 All of a person's ways are pure in his own eyes, but Yahweh weighs the spirits. 3 Commit your works to Yahweh and your plans will succeed. 4 Yahweh has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble. 5 Yahweh hates everyone who has an arrogant heart, but be sure of this, they will not go unpunished. 6 By covenant faithfulness and trustworthiness iniquity is atoned for and by the fear of Yahweh people turn away from evil. 7 When a person's ways are pleasing to Yahweh, he makes even that person's enemies to be at peace with him. 8 Better is a little with what is right, than a large income with injustice. 9 In his heart a person plans out his way, but Yahweh directs his steps. 10 Insightful decisions are on the lips of a king, his mouth should not betray justice. 11 Honest scales come from Yahweh; all the weights in the bag are his work. 12 When kings do wicked things, that is something to be despised, for a throne is established by doing what is right. 13 A king delights in lips that say what is right and he loves the one who speaks directly. 14 A king's wrath is a messenger of death but a wise man will try to calm his anger. 15 In the light of a king's face is life and his favor is like a cloud that brings a spring rain. 16 How much better it is to get wisdom than gold. To get understanding should be chosen more than silver. 17 The highway of upright people turns away from evil; the one who protects his life guards his way. 18 Pride comes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a downfall. 19 It is better to be humble among poor people than to divide the spoil with proud people. 20 Whoever contemplates what they are taught will find what is good, and those who trust in Yahweh will be blessed. 21 The one who is wise in heart is called discerning and sweetness of speech improves the ability to teach. 22 Understanding is a fountain of life to the one who has it, but the instruction of fools is their foolishness. 23 The heart of a wise person gives insight to his mouth and adds persuasiveness to his lips. 24 Pleasant words are a honeycomb— sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. 25 There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death. 26 The laborer's appetite works for him; his hunger urges him on. 27 A worthless person digs up mischief and his speech is like a scorching fire. 28 A perverse person stirs up conflict and a gossip separates close friends. 29 A man of violence lies to his neighbor and leads him down a path that is not good. 30 The one who winks the eye is plotting perverse things; those who purse the lips will bring evil to pass. 31 Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained by living the right way. 32 It is better to be slow to anger than to be a warrior and one who rules his spirit is stronger than one who conquers a city. 33 The lots are cast into the lap, but the decision is from Yahweh.
Proverbs · Unlocked Literal Bible
Proverbs 16 Unlocked Literal Bible
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
Cross references (33)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Proverbs 19:21; Proverbs 16:9; Luke 21:14–15; Philippians 2:13; Proverbs 20:24
- 2 Proverbs 21:2; 1 Samuel 16:7; Luke 16:15; Proverbs 30:12; Jeremiah 17:10
- 3 Psalm 37:4–5; Proverbs 3:6; Psalm 55:22; Philippians 4:6; 1 Peter 5:7
- 4 2 Peter 2:9; Isaiah 43:21; Romans 9:22; Isaiah 43:7; 1 Peter 2:8
- 5 Proverbs 6:16–17; Proverbs 8:13; Proverbs 11:21; Romans 2:8–9; James 4:6
- 6 Proverbs 14:16; Job 28:28; 2 Corinthians 7:1; Daniel 4:27; Luke 11:41
- 7 Romans 8:31; 1 John 3:22; 2 Chronicles 17:10; Colossians 1:10; Jeremiah 15:11
- 8 Proverbs 15:16; Psalm 37:16; 1 Timothy 6:6–9; Jeremiah 17:11; Proverbs 21:6–7
- 9 Proverbs 19:21; Psalm 37:23; Proverbs 16:1; Proverbs 20:24; Jeremiah 10:23
- 10 Isaiah 32:1–2; Genesis 44:5; Genesis 44:15; Hosea 10:4; Deuteronomy 17:18–20
- 11 Proverbs 11:1; Proverbs 20:10; Proverbs 20:23; Deuteronomy 25:13–15; Leviticus 19:35–36
- 12 Proverbs 25:5; Proverbs 29:14; Proverbs 28:9; Luke 12:48; Psalm 99:4
- 13 Proverbs 14:35; Proverbs 22:11; Psalm 101:5–7
- 14 Proverbs 20:2; Proverbs 19:12; Ecclesiastes 10:4; Luke 12:4–5; Proverbs 17:11
- 15 Psalm 72:6; Job 29:23–24; Hosea 6:3; Acts 2:28; Psalm 21:6
- 16 Proverbs 8:10–11; Matthew 16:26; Proverbs 8:19; Luke 12:21; Proverbs 3:15–18
- 17 Isaiah 35:8; Proverbs 19:16; Proverbs 10:9; Jude 21; Revelation 3:10
- 18 Proverbs 11:2; Isaiah 2:11–12; Proverbs 18:12; Obadiah 3–4; Proverbs 29:23
- 19 Matthew 5:3; Psalm 138:6; Isaiah 57:15; Exodus 15:9; Psalm 34:18
- 20 Jeremiah 17:7–8; Isaiah 30:18; Psalm 2:12; Isaiah 26:3–4; Psalm 34:8
- 21 Proverbs 16:23–24; Isaiah 50:4; Proverbs 15:7; Proverbs 27:9; James 3:17
- 22 Proverbs 13:14; John 6:63; Matthew 15:14; John 5:24; Proverbs 18:4
- 23 Proverbs 15:28; Matthew 12:34–35; Proverbs 22:17–18; Colossians 3:16; Psalm 45:1
- 24 Proverbs 12:18; Proverbs 24:13–14; Proverbs 4:22; Proverbs 25:11–12; Proverbs 23:16
- 25 Proverbs 14:12; Proverbs 12:15; 2 Corinthians 13:5; Proverbs 12:26; John 7:47–49
- 26 Ecclesiastes 6:7; Proverbs 14:23; Proverbs 9:12; 2 Thessalonians 3:8–12; 1 Thessalonians 4:11–12
- 27 James 3:6; Proverbs 6:14; Isaiah 5:18; Psalm 17:14–15; Psalm 52:2–4
- 28 Proverbs 17:9; James 3:14–16; Romans 1:29; Proverbs 18:8; Proverbs 6:14
- 29 Proverbs 2:12–15; 2 Peter 3:17; Proverbs 12:26; Proverbs 3:31; Proverbs 1:10–14
- 30 Proverbs 6:12–14; Matthew 13:15; Proverbs 16:27; Isaiah 6:10; Matthew 14:7–8
- 31 Proverbs 20:29; Leviticus 19:32; Proverbs 3:1–2; Proverbs 17:6; 1 Samuel 12:2–5
- 32 James 1:19; Proverbs 15:18; Proverbs 25:28; Proverbs 14:29; Proverbs 19:11
- 33 Proverbs 18:18; Jonah 1:7; Acts 1:26; Proverbs 29:26; 1 Samuel 14:41–42
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
… which seeth in secret will reward." Lest then he repay them that recompense evil, he overcomes his anger rather than another man, being instructed too by those writings, wherein it is written, "Better is he that overcometh his anger, than he that taketh a city." "If I have repaid them that recompense me evil, may I therefore fall by my …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 8 (1888)