Proverbs 16
The Lord governs the tongue and weighs spirits, and He sets intentions in order when works are opened to Him. A good way is to do justice, and mercy and truth can redeem iniquity. The heart of man disposes his way, but the Lord directs his steps, and foreknowledge is in the lips of the king. Wisdom is better than gold, and the path of the just turns away from evils.
It is for man to prepare the soul, and for the Lord to govern the tongueAll the ways of a man are open to his eyes; the Lord is the one who weighs spiritsOpen your works to the Lord, and your intentions will be set in orderThe Lord has wrought all things because of himself. Likewise the impious is for the evil dayAll the arrogant are an abomination to the Lord. Even if hand will be joined to hand, he is not innocent. The beginning of a good way is to do justice. And this is more acceptable with God than to immolate sacrificesBy mercy and truth, iniquity is redeemed. And by the fear of the Lord, one turns away from evilWhen the ways of man will please the Lord, he will convert even his enemies to peaceBetter is a little with justice, than many fruits with iniquityThe heart of man disposes his way. But it is for Lord to direct his stepsForeknowledge is in the lips of the king. His mouth shall not err in judgmentWeights and scales are judgments of the Lord. And all the stones in the bag are his workThose who act impiously are abominable to the king. For the throne is made firm by justiceJust lips are the will of kings. He who speaks honestly shall be lovedThe indignation of a king is a herald of death. And the wise man will appease itIn the cheerfulness of the king’s countenance, there is life. And his clemency is like belated rainPossess wisdom, for it is better than gold. And acquire prudence, for it is more precious than silverThe path of the just turns away from evils. He who guards his soul preserves his wayArrogance precedes destruction. And the spirit is exalted before a fallIt is better to be humbled with the meek, than to divide spoils with the arrogantThe learned in word shall find good things. And whoever hopes in the Lord is blessedWhoever is wise in heart shall be called prudent. And whoever is sweet in eloquence shall attain to what is greaterLearning is a fountain of life to one who possesses it. The doctrine of the foolish is senselessThe heart of the wise shall instruct his mouth and add grace to his lipsCareful words are a honeycomb: sweet to the soul and healthful to the bonesThere is a way which seems right to a man, and its end result leads to deathThe soul of the laborer labors for himself, because his mouth has driven him to itThe impious man digs up evil, and in his lips is a burning fireA perverse man stirs up lawsuits. And one who is verbose divides leadersA man of iniquity entices his friend, and he leads him along a way that is not goodWhoever, with astonished eyes, thinks up depravities, biting his lips, accomplishes evilOld age is a crown of dignity, when it is found in the ways of justiceA patient man is better than a strong one. And whoever rules his soul is better than one who assaults citiesLots are cast into the lap, but they are tempered by the Lord
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