Proverbs 16–22:16: The Proverbs of Solomon, Second Collection
Scripture: Berean Standard Bible
The plans of the heart belong to man,but the reply of the tongue is from the LORD.
All a man’s ways are pure in his own eyes,but his motives are weighed out by the LORD.
Commit your works to the LORDand your plans will be achieved.
The LORD has made everything for his purpose—even the wicked for the day of disaster.
Everyone who is proud in heart is detestable to the LORD;be assured that he will not go unpunished.
By loving devotion and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for,and by the fear of the LORD one turns aside from evil.
When a man’s ways please the LORD,he makes even the man’s enemies live at peace with him.
Better a little with righteousnessthan great gain with injustice.
A man’s heart plans his course,but the LORD determines his steps.
A divine verdict is on the lips of a king;his mouth must not betray justice.
Honest scales and balances are from the LORD;all the weights in the bag are his concern.
Wicked behavior is detestable to kings,for a throne is established through righteousness.
Righteous lips are a king’s delight,and he who speaks honestly is beloved.
The wrath of a king is a messenger of death,but a wise man will pacify it.
When a king’s face brightens, there is life;his favor is like a rain cloud in spring.
How much better to acquire wisdom than gold!To gain understanding is more desirable than silver.
The highway of the upright leads away from evil;he who guards his way protects his life.
Pride goes before destruction,and a haughty spirit before a fall.
It is better to be lowly in spirit among the humblethan to divide the spoil with the proud.
Whoever heeds instruction will find success,and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD.
The wise in heart are called discerning,and pleasant speech promotes instruction.
Understanding is a fountain of life to its possessor,but the discipline of fools is folly.
The heart of the wise man instructs his mouthand adds persuasiveness to his lips.
Pleasant words are a honeycomb,sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.
There is a way that seems right to a man,but its end is the way of death.
A worker’s appetite works for himbecause his hunger drives him onward.
A worthless man digs up evil,and his speech is like a scorching fire.
A perverse man spreads dissension,and a gossip divides close friends.
A violent man entices his neighborand leads him down a path that is not good.
He who winks his eye devises perversity;he who purses his lips is bent on evil.
Gray hair is a crown of glory;it is attained along the path of righteousness.
He who is slow to anger is better than a warrior,and he who controls his temper is greater than one who captures a city.
The lot is cast into the lap,but its every decision is from the LORD.Better a dry morsel in quietnessthan a house full of feasting with strife.
A wise servant will rule over a disgraceful sonand share his inheritance as one of the brothers.
A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold,but the LORD is the tester of hearts.
A wicked man listens to evil lips;a liar gives ear to a destructive tongue.
He who mocks the poor insults their Maker;whoever gloats over calamity will not go unpunished.
Grandchildren are the crown of the aged,and the glory of a son is his father.
Eloquent words are unfit for a fool;how much worse are lying lips to a ruler!
A bribe is a charm to its giver;wherever he turns, he succeeds.
Whoever conceals an offense promotes love,but he who brings it up separates friends.
A rebuke cuts into a man of discernmentdeeper than a hundred lashes cut into a fool.
An evil man seeks only rebellion;a cruel messenger will be sent against him.
It is better to meet a bear robbed of her cubsthan a fool in his folly.
If anyone returns evil for good,evil will never leave his house.
To start a quarrel is to release a flood;so abandon the dispute before it breaks out.
Acquitting the guilty and condemning the righteous—both are detestable to the LORD.
Why should the fool have money in his handwith no intention of buying wisdom?
A friend loves at all times,and a brother is born for adversity.
A man lacking judgment strikes hands in pledgeand puts up security for his neighbor.
He who loves transgression loves strife;he who builds his gate high invites destruction.
The one with a perverse heart finds no good,and he whose tongue is deceitful falls into trouble.
A man fathers a fool to his own grief;the father of a fool has no joy.
A joyful heart is good medicine,but a broken spirit dries up the bones.
A wicked man takes a covert bribeto subvert the course of justice.
Wisdom is the focus of the discerning,but the eyes of a fool wander to the ends of the earth.
A foolish son brings grief to his fatherand bitterness to her who bore him.
It is surely not good to punish the innocentor to flog a noble for his honesty.
A man of knowledge restrains his words,and a man of understanding maintains a calm spirit.
Even a fool is considered wise if he keeps silent,and discerning when he holds his tongue.He who isolates himself pursues selfish desires;he rebels against all sound judgment.
A fool does not delight in understanding,but only in airing his opinions.
With a wicked man comes contempt as well,and shame is accompanied by disgrace.
The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters;the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.
Showing partiality to the wicked is not good,nor is depriving the innocent of justice.
A fool’s lips bring him strife,and his mouth invites a beating.
A fool’s mouth is his ruin,and his lips are a snare to his soul.
The words of a gossip are like choice morselsthat go down into the inmost being.
Whoever is slothful in his workis brother to him who destroys.
The name of the LORD is a strong tower;the righteous run to it and are safe.
A rich man’s wealth is his fortified city;it is like a high wall in his imagination.
Before his downfall a man’s heart is proud,but humility comes before honor.
He who answers a matter before he hears it—this is folly and disgrace to him.
The spirit of a man can endure his sickness,but who can survive a broken spirit?
The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge,and the ear of the wise seeks it out.
A man’s gift opens doors for him,and brings him before great men.
The first to state his case seems rightuntil another comes and cross-examines him.
Casting the lot ends quarrelsand separates strong opponents.
An offended brother is harder to win than a fortified city,and disputes are like the bars of a castle.
From the fruit of his mouth a man’s belly is filled;with the harvest from his lips he is satisfied.
Life and death are in the power of the tongue,and those who love it will eat its fruit.
He who finds a wife finds a good thingand obtains favor from the LORD.
The poor man pleads for mercy,but the rich man answers harshly.
A man of many companions may come to ruin,but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother.Better a poor man who walks with integritythan a fool whose lips are perverse.
Even zeal is no good without knowledge,and he who hurries his footsteps misses the mark.
A man’s own folly subverts his way,yet his heart rages against the LORD.
Wealth attracts many friends,but a poor man is deserted by his friend.
A false witness will not go unpunished,and one who utters lies will not escape.
Many seek the favor of the prince,and everyone is a friend of the gift giver.
All the brothers of a poor man hate him—how much more do his friends avoid him!He may pursue them with pleading,but they are nowhere to be found.
He who acquires wisdom loves himself;one who safeguards understanding will find success.
A false witness will not go unpunished,and one who pours out lies will perish.
Luxury is unseemly for a fool—how much worse for a slave to rule over princes!
A man’s insight gives him patience,and his virtue is to overlook an offense.
A king’s rage is like the roar of a lion,but his favor is like dew on the grass.
A foolish son is his father’s ruin,and a quarrelsome wife is like a constant dripping.
Houses and wealth are inherited from fathers,but a prudent wife is from the LORD.
Laziness brings on deep sleep,and an idle soul will suffer hunger.
He who keeps a commandment preserves his soul,but he who is careless in his ways will die.
Kindness to the poor is a loan to the LORD,and he will repay the lender.
Discipline your son, for in that there is hope;do not be party to his death.
A man of great anger must pay the penalty;if you rescue him, you will have to do so again.
Listen to counsel and accept discipline,that you may be wise the rest of your days.
Many plans are in a man’s heart,but the purpose of the LORD will prevail.
The desire of a man is loving devotion;better to be poor than a liar.
The fear of the LORD leads to life,that one may rest content, without visitation from harm.
The slacker buries his hand in the dish;he will not even bring it back to his mouth.
Strike a mocker, and the simple will beware;rebuke the discerning man, and he will gain knowledge.
He who assaults his father or evicts his motheris a son who brings shame and disgrace.
If you cease to hear instruction, my son,you will stray from the words of knowledge.
A corrupt witness mocks justice,and a wicked mouth swallows iniquity.
Judgments are prepared for mockers,and beatings for the backs of fools.Wine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler,and whoever is led astray by them is not wise.
The terror of a king is like the roar of a lion;whoever provokes him forfeits his own life.
It is honorable for a man to resolve a dispute,but any fool will quarrel.
The slacker does not plow in season;at harvest time he looks, but nothing is there.
The intentions of a man’s heart are deep waters,but a man of understanding draws them out.
Many a man proclaims his loving devotion,but who can find a trustworthy man?
The righteous man walks with integrity;blessed are his children after him.
A king who sits on a throne to judgesifts out all evil with his eyes.
Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure;I am cleansed from my sin”?
Differing weights and unequal measures —both are detestable to the LORD.
Even a young man is known by his actions—whether his conduct is pure and upright.
Ears that hear and eyes that see—the LORD has made them both.
Do not love sleep, or you will grow poor;open your eyes, and you will have plenty of food.
“Worthless, worthless!” says the buyer,but on the way out, he gloats.
There is an abundance of gold and rubies,but lips of knowledge are a rare treasure.
Take the garment of the one who posts security for a stranger;get collateral if it is for a foreigner.
Food gained by fraud is sweet to a man,but later his mouth is full of gravel.
Set plans by consultation,and wage war under sound guidance.
He who reveals secrets is a constant gossip;avoid the one who babbles with his lips.
Whoever curses his father or mother,his lamp will be extinguished in deepest darkness.
An inheritance gained quicklywill not be blessed in the end.
Do not say, “I will avenge this evil!”Wait on the LORD, and he will save you.
Unequal weights are detestable to the LORD,and dishonest scales are no good.
A man’s steps are from the LORD,so how can anyone understand his own way?
It is a trap for a man to dedicate something rashly,only later to reconsider his vows.
A wise king separates out the wickedand drives the threshing wheel over them.
The spirit of a man is the lamp of the LORD,searching out his inmost being.
Loving devotion and faithfulness preserve a king;by these he maintains his throne.
The glory of young men is their strength,and gray hair is the splendor of the old.
Lashes and wounds scour evil,and beatings cleanse the inmost parts.The king’s heart is a waterway in the hand of the LORD;he directs it where he pleases.
All a man’s ways seem right to him,but the LORD weighs the heart.
To do righteousness and justiceis more desirable to the LORD than sacrifice.
Haughty eyes and a proud heart—the guides of the wicked—are sin.
The plans of the diligent bring plenty,as surely as haste leads to poverty.
Making a fortune by a lying tongueis a vanishing mist, a deadly pursuit.
The violence of the wicked will sweep them awaybecause they refuse to do what is just.
The way of a guilty man is crooked,but the conduct of the innocent is upright.
Better to live on a corner of the roofthan to share a house with a quarrelsome wife.
The soul of the wicked man craves evil;his neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.
When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom;and when a wise man is instructed, he acquires knowledge.
The Righteous One considers the house of the wickedand brings the wicked to ruin.
Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor,he too shall cry out and receive no answer.
A gift in secret soothes anger,and a covert bribe pacifies great wrath.
Justice executed is a joy to the righteous,but a terror to the workers of iniquity.
The man who strays from the path of understandingwill rest in the assembly of the dead.
He who loves pleasure will become poor;the one who loves wine and oil will never be rich.
The wicked become a ransom for the righteous,and the faithless for the upright.
Better to live in the desertthan with a contentious and ill-tempered wife.
Precious treasures and oil are in the dwelling of the wise,but a foolish man consumes them.
He who pursues righteousness and loving devotionfinds life, righteousness, and honor.
A wise man scales the city of the mightyand pulls down the stronghold in which they trust.
He who guards his mouth and tonguekeeps his soul from distress.
Mocker is the name of the proud and arrogant man—of him who acts with excessive pride.
The craving of the slacker kills himbecause his hands refuse to work.All day long he covets more,but the righteous give without restraint.
The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable—how much more so when brought with ill intent!
A lying witness will perish,but the man who listens to truth will speak forever.
A wicked man hardens his face,but the upright man makes his way sure.
There is no wisdom, no understanding, no counselthat can prevail against the LORD.
A horse is prepared for the day of battle,but victory is of the LORD.A good name is more desirable than great riches;favor is better than silver and gold.
The rich and the poor have this in common:The LORD is Maker of them all.
The prudent see danger and take cover,but the simple keep going and suffer the consequences.
The rewards of humility and the fear of the LORDare wealth and honor and life.
Thorns and snares lie on the path of the perverse;he who guards his soul stays far from them.
Train up a child in the way he should go,and when he is old he will not depart from it.
The rich rule over the poor,and the borrower is slave to the lender.
He who sows injustice will reap disaster,and the rod of his fury will be destroyed.
A generous man will be blessed,for he shares his bread with the poor.
Drive out the mocker, and conflict will depart;even quarreling and insults will cease.
He who loves a pure heart and gracious lipswill have the king for a friend.
The LORD’s eyes keep watch over knowledge,but he frustrates the words of the faithless.
The slacker says, “There is a lion outside!I will be slain in the streets!”
The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit;he who is under the wrath of the LORD will fall into it.
Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child,but the rod of discipline drives it far from him.
Oppressing the poor to enrich oneself or giving gifts to the richwill surely lead to poverty.