Proverbs 16 Parallel Bible Translations

Proverbs 16 ▼
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1 People do the planning, but the end result is from the LORD. The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the LORD. To humans belong the plans of the heart, but from the LORD comes the proper answer of the tongue.
2 Everything a person does seems pure in his own opinion, but the LORD weighs intentions. All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the spirit. All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the LORD.
3 Entrust your work to the LORD, and your planning will succeed. Commit your work to the LORD, and your plans will be established. Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.
4 The LORD made everything answerable to him, including the wicked at the time of trouble. The LORD has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble. The LORD works out everything to its proper end— even the wicked for a day of disaster.
5 The LORD detests those who are proud; truly they will not go unpunished. Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the LORD; be assured, he will not go unpunished. The LORD detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.
6 Iniquity is atoned for by gracious love and truth, and through fear of the LORD people turn from evil. By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the LORD one turns away from evil. Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for; through the fear of the LORD evil is avoided.
7 When a person's ways please the LORD, even his enemies will be at peace with him. When a man’s ways please the LORD, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. When the LORD takes pleasure in anyone’s way, he causes their enemies to make peace with them.
8 A little gain with righteousness is better than great income without justice. Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues with injustice. Better a little with righteousness than much gain with injustice.
9 A person plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps. The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps. In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps.
10 When a king is ready to speak officially, what he says should not err with respect to justice. An oracle is on the lips of a king; his mouth does not sin in judgment. The lips of a king speak as an oracle, and his mouth does not betray justice.
11 Honest scales and balances are from the LORD; he made all the weights in the bag. A just balance and scales are the LORD’s; all the weights in the bag are his work. Honest scales and balances belong to the LORD; all the weights in the bag are of his making.
12 Kings detest wrongdoing, for through righteousness the throne is established. It is an abomination to kings to do evil, for the throne is established by righteousness. Kings detest wrongdoing, for a throne is established through righteousness.
13 Kings take pleasure in righteous speech; they treasure a person who speaks what is upright. Righteous lips are the delight of a king, and he loves him who speaks what is right. Kings take pleasure in honest lips; they value the one who speaks what is right.
14 The king's wrath results in a death sentence, but whoever is wise will appease him. A king’s wrath is a messenger of death, and a wise man will appease it. A king’s wrath is a messenger of death, but the wise will appease it.
15 When a king is pleased, there is life, and his favor is like a cloud that brings spring rain. In the light of a king’s face there is life, and his favor is like the clouds that bring the spring rain. When a king’s face brightens, it means life; his favor is like a rain cloud in spring.
16 How much better than gaining gold is the acquisition of wisdom, the attainment of wisdom better than silver! How much better to get wisdom than gold! To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver. How much better to get wisdom than gold, to get insight rather than silver!
17 The road of the upright circumvents evil, and whoever watches how he lives preserves his life. The highway of the upright turns aside from evil; whoever guards his way preserves his life. The highway of the upright avoids evil; those who guard their ways preserve their lives.
18 Pride precedes destruction; an arrogant spirit appears before a fall. Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.
19 Better to be humble among the poor, than to share what is stolen with the proud. It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor than to divide the spoil with the proud. Better to be lowly in spirit along with the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud.
20 Whoever listens to a word of instruction prospers, and anyone who trusts in the LORD is blessed. Whoever gives thought to the word will discover good, and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD. Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD.
21 The wise-hearted person is told to be discerning, and that pleasant speech promotes instruction. The wise of heart is called discerning, and sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness. The wise in heart are called discerning, and gracious words promote instruction.
22 Anyone who has understanding is a fountain of life, but foolishness brings punishment to fools. Good sense is a fountain of life to him who has it, but the instruction of fools is folly. Prudence is a fountain of life to the prudent, but folly brings punishment to fools.
23 A wise person's thoughts control his words, and his speech promotes instruction. The heart of the wise makes his speech judicious and adds persuasiveness to his lips. The hearts of the wise make their mouths prudent, and their lips promote instruction.
24 Pleasant words are honey from a honeycomb— sweet to the soul and healing for the body. Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body. Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.
25 There is a road that seems right for a man to travel, but in the end it's the road to death. There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death. There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.
26 The appetite of the laborer motivates him; indeed, his hunger drives him on. A worker’s appetite works for him; his mouth urges him on. The appetite of laborers works for them; their hunger drives them on.
27 A worthless person concocts evil gossip — his lips are like a burning fire. A worthless man plots evil, and his speech is like a scorching fire. A scoundrel plots evil, and on their lips it is like a scorching fire.
28 A deceitful man stirs dissension, and anyone who gossips separates friends. A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends. A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends.
29 A violent man entices his companion and leads him on a path that is not good. A man of violence entices his neighbor and leads him in a way that is not good. A violent person entices their neighbor and leads them down a path that is not good.
30 Whoever winks knowingly is plotting deceit; anyone who purses his lips is bent towards evil. Whoever winks his eyes plans dishonest things; he who purses his lips brings evil to pass. Whoever winks with their eye is plotting perversity; whoever purses their lips is bent on evil.
31 Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is obtained by following a righteous path. Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life. Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained in the way of righteousness.
32 Whoever controls his temper is better than a warrior, and anyone who has control of his spirit is better than someone who captures a city. Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city. Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city.
33 The dice is cast into someone's lap, but the outcome is from the LORD. The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD. The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.
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