PROVERBS 16

16:1 The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD.
16:2 All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits.
16:3 Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.
16:4 The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.
16:5 Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.
16:6 By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.
16:7 When a man's ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.
16:8 Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right.
16:9 A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.
16:10 A divine sentence is in the lips of the king: his mouth transgresseth not in judgment.
16:11 A just weight and balance are the LORD's: all the weights of the bag are his work.
16:12 It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is established by righteousness.
16:13 Righteous lips are the delight of kings; and they love him that speaketh right.
16:14 The wrath of a king is as messengers of death: but a wise man will pacify it.
16:15 In the light of the king's countenance is life; and his favour is as a cloud of the latter rain.
16:16 How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!
16:17 The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.
16:18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
16:19 Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.
16:20 He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he.
16:21 The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.
16:22 Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the instruction of fools is folly.
16:23 The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips.
16:24 Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
16:25 There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
16:26 He that laboureth laboureth for himself; for his mouth craveth it of him.
16:27 An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips there is as a burning fire.
16:28 A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.
16:29 A violent man enticeth his neighbour, and leadeth him into the way that is not good.
16:30 He shutteth his eyes to devise froward things: moving his lips he bringeth evil to pass.
16:31 The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness.
16:32 He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.
16:33 The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD.

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PROVERBS 17

17:1 Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife.
17:2 A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.
17:3 The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts.
17:4 A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.
17:5 Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.
17:6 Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.
17:7 Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.
17:8 A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.
17:9 He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.
17:10 A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.
17:11 An evil man seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
17:12 Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.
17:13 Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
17:14 The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.
17:15 He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD.
17:16 Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it?
17:17 A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
17:18 A man void of understanding striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his friend.
17:19 He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.
17:20 He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.
17:21 He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.
17:22 A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
17:23 A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.
17:24 Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.
17:25 A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him.
17:26 Also to punish the just is not good, nor to strike princes for equity.
17:27 He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.
17:28 Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.

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PROVERBS 18

18:1 Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom.
18:2 A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.
18:3 When the wicked cometh, then cometh also contempt, and with ignominy reproach.
18:4 The words of a man's mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook.
18:5 It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment.
18:6 A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes.
18:7 A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.
18:8 The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
18:9 He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.
18:10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.
18:11 The rich man's wealth is his strong city, and as an high wall in his own conceit.
18:12 Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.
18:13 He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.
18:14 The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?
18:15 The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.
18:16 A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.
18:17 He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him.
18:18 The lot causeth contentions to cease, and parteth between the mighty.
18:19 A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.
18:20 A man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.
18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
18:22 Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.
18:23 The poor useth intreaties; but the rich answereth roughly.
18:24 A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

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PROVERBS 19

19:1 Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.
19:2 Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good; and he that hasteth with his feet sinneth.
19:3 The foolishness of man perverteth his way: and his heart fretteth against the LORD.
19:4 Wealth maketh many friends; but the poor is separated from his neighbour.
19:5 A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape.
19:6 Many will intreat the favour of the prince: and every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts.
19:7 All the brethren of the poor do hate him: how much more do his friends go far from him? he pursueth them with words, yet they are wanting to him.
19:8 He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: he that keepeth understanding shall find good.
19:9 A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall perish.
19:10 Delight is not seemly for a fool; much less for a servant to have rule over princes.
19:11 The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression.
19:12 The king's wrath is as the roaring of a lion; but his favour is as dew upon the grass.
19:13 A foolish son is the calamity of his father: and the contentions of a wife are a continual dripping.
19:14 House and riches are the inheritance of fathers: and a prudent wife is from the LORD.
19:15 Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger.
19:16 He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his own soul; but he that despiseth his ways shall die.
19:17 He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.
19:18 Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.
19:19 A man of great wrath shall suffer punishment: for if thou deliver him, yet thou must do it again.
19:20 Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.
19:21 There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.
19:22 The desire of a man is his kindness: and a poor man is better than a liar.
19:23 The fear of the LORD tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.
19:24 A slothful man hideth his hand in his bosom, and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.
19:25 Smite a scorner, and the simple will beware: and reprove one that hath understanding, and he will understand knowledge.
19:26 He that wasteth his father, and chaseth away his mother, is a son that causeth shame, and bringeth reproach.
19:27 Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge.
19:28 An ungodly witness scorneth judgment: and the mouth of the wicked devoureth iniquity.
19:29 Judgments are prepared for scorners, and stripes for the back of fools.

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PROVERBS 20

20:1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
20:2 The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.
20:3 It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.
20:4 The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.
20:5 Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.
20:6 Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?
20:7 The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.
20:8 A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.
20:9 Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin? 20:10 Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the LORD.
20:11 Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.
20:12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them.
20:13 Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.
20:14 It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.
20:15 There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
20:16 Take his garment that is surety for a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.
20:17 Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
20:18 Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.
20:19 He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.
20:20 Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.
20:21 An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.
20:22 Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.
20:23 Divers weights are an abomination unto the LORD; and a false balance is not good.
20:24 Man's goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way?
20:25 It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after vows to make enquiry.
20:26 A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them.
20:27 The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.
20:28 Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy.
20:29 The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the grey head.
20:30 The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly.

Next: Proverbs 21-25
Previous: Proverbs 11-15

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