# Chapter 16
1 The reflections of the heart belong to mankind,
but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
2 All a person’s ways seem right to him,
but the Lord weighs motives.
3 Commit your activities to the Lord,
and your plans will be established.
4 The Lord has prepared everything for his purpose—
even the wicked for the day of disaster.
5 Everyone with a proud heart is detestable to the Lord;
be assured, he will not go unpunished.
6 Iniquity is atoned for by loyalty and faithfulness,
and one turns from evil by the fear of the Lord.
7 When a person’s ways please the Lord,
he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
8 Better a little with righteousness
than great income with injustice.
9 A person’s heart plans his way,
but the Lord determines his steps.
10 God’s verdict is on the lips of a king;
his mouth should not give an unfair judgment.
11 Honest balances and scales are the Lord’s;
all the weights in the bag are his concern.
12 Wicked behavior is detestable to kings,
since a throne is established through righteousness.
13 Righteous lips are a king’s delight,
and he loves one who speaks honestly.
14 A king’s fury is a messenger of death,
but a wise person appeases it.
15 When a king’s face lights up, there is life;
his favor is like a cloud with spring rain.
16 Get wisdom—
how much better it is than gold!
And get understanding—
it is preferable to silver.
17 The highway of the upright avoids evil;
the one who guards his way protects his life.
18 Pride comes before destruction,
and an arrogant spirit before a fall.
19 Better to be lowly of spirit with the humble
than to divide plunder with the proud.
20 The one who understands a matter finds success,
and the one who trusts in the Lord will be happy.
21 Anyone with a wise heart is called discerning,
and pleasant speech increases learning.
22 Insight is a fountain of life for its possessor,
but the discipline of fools is folly.
23 The heart of a wise person instructs his mouth;
it adds learning to his speech.
24 Pleasant words are a honeycomb:
sweet to the taste and health to the body.
25 There is a way that seems right to a person,
but its end is the way to death.
26 A worker’s appetite works for him
because his hunger urges him on.
27 A worthless person digs up evil,
and his speech is like a scorching fire.
28 A contrary person spreads conflict,
and a gossip separates close friends.
29 A violent person lures his neighbor,
leading him on a path that is not good.
30 The one who narrows his eyes is planning deceptions;
the one who compresses his lips brings about evil.
31 Gray hair is a glorious crown;
it is found in the ways of righteousness.
32 Patience is better than power,
and controlling one’s emotions, than capturing a city.
33 The lot is cast into the lap,
but its every decision is from the Lord.