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Listen to Proverbs 16:1-11
16The plans of the heart belong to man,
but (A)the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
2(B)All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes,
but the Lord (C)weighs the spirit.[a]
3(D)Commit your work to the Lord,
and your plans will be established.
4(E)The Lord has made everything for its purpose,
even (F)the wicked for the day of trouble.
5Everyone who is arrogant in heart is (G)an abomination to the Lord;
(H)be assured, he will not go unpunished.
6By (I)steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for,
and by (J)the fear of the Lord one (K)turns away from evil.
7When a man's ways please the Lord,
(L)he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
8(M)Better is a little with righteousness
than great revenues with injustice.
9(N)The heart of man plans his way,
but (O)the Lord establishes his steps.
10(P)An oracle is on the lips of a king;
his mouth does not sin in judgment.
11(Q)A just balance and scales are the Lord's;
all the weights in the bag are his work.
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Footnotes
- Proverbs 16:2 Or spirits
Cross references
- Proverbs 16:1 : [Matt. 10:19, 20]
- Proverbs 16:2 : ch. 21:2; [ch. 12:15]; See ch. 30:12
- Proverbs 16:2 : ch. 24:12; See 1 Sam. 16:7
- Proverbs 16:3 : See Ps. 37:5
- Proverbs 16:4 : Rom. 11:36
- Proverbs 16:4 : Job 21:30; [Ex. 9:16]
- Proverbs 16:5 : ch. 6:16, 17; 8:13; Luke 16:15
- Proverbs 16:5 : ch. 11:21; [ch. 28:20]
- Proverbs 16:6 : Dan. 4:27
- Proverbs 16:6 : ch. 14:16
- Proverbs 16:6 : ver. 17; Job 28:28
- Proverbs 16:7 : [Gen. 26:28; 2 Chr. 17:10]
- Proverbs 16:8 : See ch. 15:16
- Proverbs 16:9 : [ver. 1; ch. 19:21]
- Proverbs 16:9 : ch. 20:24; [Ps. 37:23; Jer. 10:23]
- Proverbs 16:10 : [1 Kgs. 3:28]
- Proverbs 16:11 : See ch. 11:1
16To humans belong the plans of the heart,
but from the Lord comes the proper answer of the tongue.(A)
2All a person’s ways seem pure to them,(B)
but motives are weighed(C) by the Lord.(D)
3Commit to the Lord whatever you do,
and he will establish your plans.(E)
4The Lord works out everything to its proper end(F)—
even the wicked for a day of disaster.(G)
5The Lord detests all the proud of heart.(H)
Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.(I)
6Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for;
through the fear of the Lord(J) evil is avoided.(K)
7When the Lord takes pleasure in anyone’s way,
he causes their enemies to make peace(L) with them.(M)
8Better a little with righteousness
than much gain(N) with injustice.(O)
9In their hearts humans plan their course,
but the Lord establishes their steps.(P)
10The lips of a king speak as an oracle,
and his mouth does not betray justice.(Q)
11Honest scales and balances belong to the Lord;
all the weights in the bag are of his making.(R)
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Cross references
- Proverbs 16:1 : ver 9; Pr 19:21
- Proverbs 16:2 : S Pr 12:15; 30:12
- Proverbs 16:2 : S 1Sa 2:3
- Proverbs 16:2 : S 2Ch 6:30; Pr 20:27; 21:2; Lk 16:15
- Proverbs 16:3 : S 2Ch 20:20; S Ps 20:4; 37:5-6; S Pr 3:5-6
- Proverbs 16:4 : Ex 9:16
- Proverbs 16:4 : S 2Ch 34:24; S Ps 18:18; Ro 9:22
- Proverbs 16:5 : S Ps 40:4; S Pr 6:16
- Proverbs 16:5 : Pr 11:20-21
- Proverbs 16:6 : S Ge 20:11; S Ex 1:17
- Proverbs 16:6 : S Ex 20:20
- Proverbs 16:7 : S Ge 39:21
- Proverbs 16:7 : Ps 105:15; Jer 39:12; 40:1; 42:12; Da 1:9
- Proverbs 16:8 : S Ps 37:16
- Proverbs 16:8 : S Pr 15:16; 17:1; Ecc 4:6
- Proverbs 16:9 : S ver 1; S Job 33:29; S Ps 90:12
- Proverbs 16:10 : Pr 17:7
- Proverbs 16:11 : S Pr 11:1; Eze 45:10
16The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the Lord.
2All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the Lord weigheth the spirits.
3Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established.
4The Lord hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.
5Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.
6By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.
7When a man's ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.
8Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right.
9A man's heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps.
10A divine sentence is in the lips of the king: his mouth transgresseth not in judgment.
11A just weight and balance are the Lord's: all the weights of the bag are his work.
Read full chapter
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