Proverbs Monthly

16 To humans belong the plans of the heart,
    but from the Lord comes the proper answer of the tongue.^(A)

² All a person’s ways seem pure to them,^(B)
    but motives are weighed^(C) by the Lord.^(D)

³ Commit to the Lord whatever you do,
    and he will establish your plans.^(E)

⁴ The Lord works out everything to its proper end^(F)—
    even the wicked for a day of disaster.^(G)

⁵ The Lord detests all the proud of heart.^(H)
    Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.^(I)

⁶ Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for;
    through the fear of the Lord^(J) evil is avoided.^(K)

⁷ When the Lord takes pleasure in anyone’s way,
    he causes their enemies to make peace^(L) with them.^(M)

⁸ Better a little with righteousness
    than much gain^(N) with injustice.^(O)

⁹ In their hearts humans plan their course,
    but the Lord establishes their steps.^(P)

¹⁰ The lips of a king speak as an oracle,
    and his mouth does not betray justice.^(Q)

¹¹ Honest scales and balances belong to the Lord;
    all the weights in the bag are of his making.^(R)

¹² Kings detest wrongdoing,
    for a throne is established through righteousness.^(S)

¹³ Kings take pleasure in honest lips;
    they value the one who speaks what is right.^(T)

¹⁴ A king’s wrath is a messenger of death,^(U)
    but the wise will appease it.^(V)

¹⁵ When a king’s face brightens, it means life;^(W)
    his favor is like a rain cloud in spring.^(X)

¹⁶ How much better to get wisdom than gold,
    to get insight^(Y) rather than silver!^(Z)

¹⁷ The highway of the upright avoids evil;
    those who guard their ways preserve their lives.^(AA)

¹⁸ Pride^(AB) goes before destruction,
    a haughty spirit^(AC) before a fall.^(AD)

¹⁹ Better to be lowly in spirit along with the oppressed
    than to share plunder with the proud.

²⁰ Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers,^[a](AE)
    and blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord.^(AF)

²¹ The wise in heart are called discerning,
    and gracious words promote instruction.^[b](AG)

²² Prudence is a fountain of life to the prudent,^(AH)
    but folly brings punishment to fools.

²³ The hearts of the wise make their mouths prudent,^(AI)
    and their lips promote instruction.^[c](AJ)

²⁴ Gracious words are a honeycomb,^(AK)
    sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.^(AL)

²⁵ There is a way that appears to be right,^(AM)
    but in the end it leads to death.^(AN)

²⁶ The appetite of laborers works for them;
    their hunger drives them on.

²⁷ A scoundrel^(AO) plots evil,
    and on their lips it is like a scorching fire.^(AP)

²⁸ A perverse person stirs up conflict,^(AQ)
    and a gossip separates close friends.^(AR)

²⁹ A violent person entices their neighbor
    and leads them down a path that is not good.^(AS)

³⁰ Whoever winks^(AT) with their eye is plotting perversity;
    whoever purses their lips is bent on evil.

³¹ Gray hair is a crown of splendor;^(AU)
    it is attained in the way of righteousness.

³² Better a patient person than a warrior,
    one with self-control than one who takes a city.

³³ The lot is cast^(AV) into the lap,
    but its every decision^(AW) is from the Lord.^(AX)