Proverbs 16-18
New Life Version
16 The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
2 All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the thoughts of the heart.
3 Trust your work to the Lord, and your plans will work out well.
4 The Lord has made all things for His own plans, even the sinful for the day of trouble.
5 Everyone who is proud in heart is a shame to the Lord. For sure, that one will be punished.
6 Sin has been paid for by loving-kindness and truth. The fear of the Lord keeps one away from sin.
7 When the ways of a man are pleasing to the Lord, He makes even those who hate him to be at peace with him.
8 A little earned in a right way is better than much earned in a wrong way.
9 The mind of a man plans his way, but the Lord shows him what to do.
10 The lips of the king should decide as God would. His mouth should not sin in deciding what is right or wrong.
11 What is fair in telling the weight of something belongs to the Lord. He cares about all the weights of the bag.
12 It is a hated thing for kings to do what is wrong. For a throne is built on what is right.
13 Lips that speak what is right and good are the joy of kings, and he who speaks the truth is loved.
14 The anger of a king carries death, but a wise man will quiet it.
15 Life is in the light of a king’s face, and his favor is like a cloud bringing the spring rain.
16 To get wisdom is much better than getting gold. To get understanding should be chosen instead of silver.
17 The road of the faithful turns away from sin. He who watches his way keeps his life.
18 Pride comes before being destroyed and a proud spirit comes before a fall.
19 It is better to be poor in spirit among poor people, than to divide the riches that were taken with the proud.
20 He who listens to the Word will find good, and happy is he who trusts in the Lord.
21 The wise in heart will be called understanding. And to speak in a pleasing way helps people know what you say is right.
22 Understanding is a well of life to him who has it, but to speak strong words to fools is of no use.
23 The heart of the wise has power over his mouth and adds learning to his lips.
24 Pleasing words are like honey. They are sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.
25 There is a way that looks right to a man, but its end is the way of death.
26 A workman’s hunger works for him. The need of his mouth pushes him on.
27 A man of no worth looks for wrong-doing. His words are like burning fire.
28 A bad man spreads trouble. One who hurts people with bad talk separates good friends.
29 A man who hurts people tempts his neighbor to do the same, and leads him in a way that is not good.
30 He who winks his eyes plans to do bad things. He who closes his lips allows sinful things to happen.
31 Hair that is turning white is like a crown of honor. It is found in the way of being right with God.
32 He who is slow to anger is better than the powerful. And he who rules his spirit is better than he who takes a city.
33 Man decides by throwing an object into the lap, but it is the Lord only who decides.
17 A dry piece of food with peace and quiet is better than a house full of food with fighting.
2 A servant who is wise in what he does will rule over a son who acts in shame. He will share in what is given as one of the brothers.
3 The melting-pot is for silver and the hot fire is for gold, but the Lord tests hearts.
4 A wrong-doer listens to sinful lips. A liar listens to a tongue that destroys.
5 He who laughs at the poor brings shame to his Maker. He who is glad at trouble will be punished.
6 Grandchildren are the pride and joy of old men and a son is proud of his father.
7 Fine speaking is not right for a fool. Even worse are lying lips to a ruler.
8 Being paid in secret for wrong-doing is like a stone of much worth to the one who has it. Wherever he turns, he does well.
9 He who covers a sin looks for love. He who tells of trouble separates good friends.
10 A man of understanding learns more from being told the right thing to do than a fool learns from being beaten a hundred times.
11 A man who will not obey looks only for what is bad. So one who has no loving-pity will be sent against him.
12 A man meeting a bear robbed of her little ones is better than meeting a fool in his foolish way.
13 If a man returns bad for good, trouble will not leave his house.
14 The beginning of trouble is like letting out water. So stop arguing before fighting breaks out.
15 He who says that the sinful are right, and he who says those who do right are wrong, both are hated by the Lord.
16 It does a fool no good to try to buy wisdom, when he has no understanding.
17 A friend loves at all times. A brother is born to share troubles.
18 A man without good thinking makes promises, and becomes a trust for what another man owes his neighbor.
19 He who loves sin loves making trouble. He who opens his door wide for trouble is looking for a way to be destroyed.
20 He who has a sinful heart finds no good. He who has a sinful tongue falls into sin.
21 A foolish son is a sorrow to his father, and the father of a fool has no joy.
22 A glad heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.
23 A sinful man receives pay in secret to change the right way into wrong-doing.
24 Wisdom is with the one who has understanding, but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.
25 A foolish son is a sorrow to his father, and trouble to her who gave birth to him.
26 It is not good to punish those who are right with God, and it is wrong to beat men of honor for being faithful.
27 He who is careful in what he says has much learning, and he who has a quiet spirit is a man of understanding.
28 Even a fool, when he keeps quiet, is thought to be wise. When he closes his lips, he is thought of as a man of understanding.
18 He who stays away from others cares only about himself. He argues against all good wisdom.
2 A fool does not find joy in understanding, but only in letting his own mind be known.
3 When a sinful man comes, hate comes also, and where there is no honor, there is shame.
4 The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters. Wisdom comes like a flowing river making a pleasant noise.
5 It is not good to favor the sinful, or to keep what is fair from one who is right with God.
6 The lips of a fool bring fighting, and his mouth calls for a beating.
7 The mouth of a fool is what destroys him, and his lips are a trap to his soul.
8 The words of one who speaks about others in secret are like tempting bites of food. They go down into the inside parts of the body.
9 He who is lazy in his work is a brother to him who destroys.
10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower. The man who does what is right runs into it and is safe.
11 The rich man’s money is his strong city, and he thinks it is like a high wall.
12 The heart of a man is proud before he is destroyed, but having no pride goes before honor.
13 If one gives an answer before he hears, it makes him foolish and ashamed.
14 The spirit of a man can help him through his sickness, but who can carry a broken spirit?
15 An understanding mind gets much learning, and the ear of the wise listens for much learning.
16 A man’s gift makes room for him, and brings him in front of great men.
17 He who tells his story first makes people think he is right, until the other comes to test him.
18 Throwing an object to decide puts an end to arguing. It keeps powerful men from fighting.
19 A brother who has been hurt in his spirit is harder to be won than a strong city, and arguing is like the iron gates of a king’s house.
20 A man’s stomach will be filled with the fruit of his mouth. He will be filled with what his lips speak.
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
22 He who finds a wife finds a good thing, and gets favor from the Lord.
23 The poor man asks for loving-kindness, but the rich man is hard in his answers.
24 A man who has friends must be a friend, but there is a friend who stays nearer than a brother.
Copyright © 1969, 2003 by Barbour Publishing, Inc.