1The plans of the heart belong to a person,

But the answer of the tongue is from the LORD.

2All the ways of a person are clean in his own sight,

But the LORD examines the [a]motives.

3[b]Commit your works to the LORD,

And your plans will be established.

4The LORD has made everything for [c]its own purpose,

Even the wicked for the day of evil.

5Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD;

[d]Be assured, he will not go unpunished.

6By mercy and truth atonement is made for wrongdoing,

And by [e]the fear of the LORD one keeps away from evil.

7When a person’s ways are pleasing to the LORD,

He causes even his enemies to make peace with him.

8Better is a little with righteousness

Than great income with injustice.

9The mind of a person plans his way,

But the LORD directs his steps.

10A divine verdict is on the lips of the king;

His mouth should not [f]err in judgment.

11A just balance and scales belong to the LORD;

All the [g]weights of the bag are His [h]concern.

12It is an abomination for kings to commit wicked acts,

Because a throne is established on righteousness.

13Righteous lips are the delight of kings,

And one who speaks right is loved.

14The fury of a king is like messengers of death;

But a wise person will appease it.

15In the light of a king’s face is life,

And his favor is like a cloud with the [i]spring rain.

16How much better it is to get wisdom than gold!

And to get understanding is to be chosen above silver.

17The highway of the upright is to turn away from evil;

One who watches his way protects his [j]life.

18Pride goes before destruction,

And a haughty spirit before stumbling.

19It is better to be humble in spirit with the needy

Than to divide the spoils with the proud.

20One who pays attention to the word will find good,

And blessed is one who trusts in the LORD.

21The wise in heart will be called understanding,

And sweetness of [k]speech increases [l]persuasiveness.

22Understanding is a fountain of life to those who have it,

But the discipline of fools is foolishness.

23The heart of the wise instructs his mouth

And adds [m]persuasiveness to his lips.

24Pleasant words are a honeycomb,

Sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

25There is a way which seems right to a person,

But its end is the way of death.

26A worker’s appetite works for him,

For his [n]hunger urges him on.

27A worthless person digs up evil,

While [o]his words are like scorching fire.

28A perverse person spreads strife,

And a [p]slanderer separates close friends.

29A person of violence entices his neighbor

And leads him in a way that is not good.

30He who winks his eyes does so to devise perverse things;

He who compresses his lips brings evil to pass.

31A gray head is a crown of glory;

It is found in the way of righteousness.

32One who is slow to anger is better than the mighty,

And one who rules his spirit, than one who captures a city.

33The lot is cast into the lap,

But its every decision is from the LORD.