ESV - Proverbs Chapter 16 to 17

16 16:1 The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord. ²All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirit. ³Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established. ⁴The Lord has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble. ⁵Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the Lord; be assured, he will not go unpunished. ⁶By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the Lord one turns away from evil. ⁷When a man’s ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. ⁸Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues with injustice. ⁹The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps. ¹⁰An oracle is on the lips of a king; his mouth does not sin in judgment. ¹¹A just balance and scales are the Lord’s; all the weights in the bag are his work. ¹²It is an abomination to kings to do evil, for the throne is established by righteousness. ¹³Righteous lips are the delight of a king, and he loves him who speaks what is right. ¹⁴A king’s wrath is a messenger of death, and a wise man will appease it. ¹⁵In the light of a king’s face there is life, and his favor is like the clouds that bring the spring rain. ¹⁶How much better to get wisdom than gold! To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver. ¹⁷The highway of the upright turns aside from evil; whoever guards his way preserves his life. ¹⁸Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. ¹⁹It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor than to divide the spoil with the proud. ²⁰Whoever gives thought to the word[1] will discover good, and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord. ²¹The wise of heart is called discerning, and sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness. ²²Good sense is a fountain of life to him who has it, but the instruction of fools is folly. ²³The heart of the wise makes his speech judicious and adds persuasiveness to his lips. ²⁴Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body. ²⁵There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.^[2]²⁶A worker’s appetite works for him; his mouth urges him on. ²⁷A worthless man plots evil, and his speech[3] is like a scorching fire. ²⁸A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends. ²⁹A man of violence entices his neighbor and leads him in a way that is not good. ³⁰Whoever winks his eyes plans^[4]dishonest things; he who purses his lips brings evil to pass. ³¹Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life. ³²Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city. ³³The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.

[1] Or to a matter [2] Hebrew ways of death [3] Hebrew what is on his lips [4] Hebrew to plan

17 17:1 Better is a dry morsel with quiet than a house full of feasting[5] with strife. ²A servant who deals wisely will rule over a son who acts shamefully and will share the inheritance as one of the brothers. ³The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and the Lord tests hearts. ⁴An evildoer listens to wicked lips, and a liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue. ⁵Whoever mocks the poor insults his Maker; he who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished. ⁶Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of children is their fathers. ⁷Fine speech is not becoming to a fool; still less is false speech to a prince. ⁸A bribe is like a magic stone in the eyes of the one who gives it; wherever he turns he prospers. ⁹Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends. ¹⁰A rebuke goes deeper into a man of understanding than a hundred blows into a fool. ¹¹An evil man seeks only rebellion, and a cruel messenger will be sent against him. ¹²Let a man meet a she-bear robbed of her cubs rather than a fool in his folly. ¹³If anyone returns evil for good, evil will not depart from his house. ¹⁴The beginning of strife is like letting out water, so quit before the quarrel breaks out. ¹⁵He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous are both alike an abomination to the Lord. ¹⁶Why should a fool have money in his hand to buy wisdom when he has no sense? ¹⁷A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. ¹⁸One who lacks sense gives a pledge and puts up security in the presence of his neighbor. ¹⁹Whoever loves transgression loves strife; he who makes his door high seeks destruction. ²⁰A man of crooked heart does not discover good, and one with a dishonest tongue falls into calamity. ²¹He who sires a fool gets himself sorrow, and the father of a fool has no joy. ²²A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. ²³The wicked accepts a bribe in secret[6] to pervert the ways of justice. ²⁴The discerning sets his face toward wisdom, but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth. ²⁵A foolish son is a grief to his father and bitterness to her who bore him. ²⁶To impose a fine on a righteous man is not good, nor to strike the noble for their uprightness. ²⁷Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding. ²⁸Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.

[5] Hebrew sacrifices [6] Hebrew a bribe from the bosom