16 The reflections of the heart belong to man,
but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.

² All a man’s ways seem right to him,
but the Lord evaluates the motives.^[a]

³ Commit your activities to the Lord,
and your plans will be achieved.

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,^[b] he will not go unpunished.

⁶ Wickedness is atoned for by loyalty and faithfulness,
and one turns from evil by the fear of the Lord.

⁷ When a man’s ways please the Lord,
He^[c] makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

⁸ Better a little with righteousness
than great income with injustice.

⁹ A man’s heart plans his way,
but the Lord determines his steps.

¹⁰ God’s verdict is on the lips of a king;^[d]
his mouth should not give an unfair judgment.

¹¹ Honest balances and scales are the Lord’s;
all the weights in the bag^[e] are His concern.

¹² Wicked behavior^[f] 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 man 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^[g]
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^[h] increases learning.

²² Insight is a fountain of life for its possessor,
but the discipline of fools is folly.

²³ A wise heart instructs its mouth
and increases learning with its speech.^[i]

²⁴ Pleasant words are a honeycomb:
sweet to the taste^[j] and health to the body.^[k]

²⁵ There is a way that seems right to a man,
but its end is the way to death.

²⁶ A worker’s appetite works for him
because his hunger^[l] urges him on.

²⁷ A worthless man digs up evil,
and his speech is like a scorching fire.

²⁸ A contrary man spreads conflict,
and a gossip separates close friends.

²⁹ A violent man lures his neighbor,
leading him in a way 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 way of righteousness.

³² Patience is better than power,
and controlling one’s temper,^[m] than capturing a city.

³³ The lot is cast into the lap,
but its every decision is from the Lord.