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

33 The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord.

1A soft answere turneth away wrath: but grieuous words stirre vp anger.

2The tongue of the wise, vseth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fooles, powreth out foolishnes.

3The eyes of the Lord are in euery place, beholding the euill & the good.

4A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but peruersnesse therein is a breach in the spirit.

5A foole despiseth his fathers instruction: but hee that regardeth reproofe, is prudent.

6In the house of the righteous is much treasure: but in the reuenues of the wicked is trouble.

7The lippes of the wise disperse knowledge: but the heart of the foolish, doeth not so.

8The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord: but the prayer of the vpright is his delight.

9The way of the wicked is an abomination vnto the Lord: but he loueth him that followeth after righteousnes.

10Correction is grieuous vnto him that forsaketh the way: and he that hateth reproofe, shall die.

11Hell and destruction are before the Lord: how much more then, the hearts of the children of men?

12A scorner loueth not one that reproueth him: neither will he goe vnto the wise.

13A merry heart maketh a cheerefull countenance: but by sorrow of the heart, the spirit is broken.

14The heart of him that hath vnderstanding, seeketh knowledge: but the mouth of fooles feedeth on foolishnesse.

15All the dayes of the afflicted are euill: but he that is of a merry heart, hath a continuall feast.

16Better is little with the feare of the Lord, then great treasure, and trouble therewith.

17Better is a dinner of herbes where loue is, then a stalled oxe, and hatred therewith.

18A wrathfull man stirreth vp strife: but he that is slow to anger, appeaseth strife.

19The way of the slouthfull man is as an hedge of thornes: but the way of the righteous is made plaine.

20A wise sonne maketh a glad father: but a foolish man despiseth his mother.

21Folly is ioy to him that is destitute of wisedome: but a man of vnderstanding walketh vprightly.

22Without counsell, purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellours they are established.

23A man hath ioy by the answere of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it?

24The way of life is aboue to the wise, that he may depart from hell beneath.

25The Lord will destroy the house of the proud: but he will establish the border of the widow.

26The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord: but the wordes of the pure, are pleasant words.

27Hee that is greedy of gaine, troubleth his owne house: but he that hateth gifts, shall liue.

28The heart of the righteous studieth to answere: but the mouth of the wicked, powreth out euil things.

29The Lord is farre from the wicked: but hee heareth the prayer of the righteous.

30The light of the eyes reioyceth the heart: and a good report maketh the bones fat.

31The eare that heareth the reproofe of life, abideth among the wise.

32He that refuseth instruction, despiseth his owne soule: but he that heareth reproofe, getteth vnderstanding.

33The feare of the Lord is the instruction of wisedome; and before honour is humilitie.

I == Jer 10:23 ; Matt 10:19-20

 

II == 2nd Sam 16:7 ; Prov 21:2

III == Phil 4:6 ; 1st Peter 5:7

IV == Job 21:30 ; Isa 43:7 ; Rom 9:22 ; 11:36

 

VI == Luke 11:41

 

 

 

 

IX == Ps 37:23

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XIV == Prov 19:12 ; 20:2

 

XV == Zech 10:1

 

 

 

 

XVIII == Prov 11:2 ; 17:19 ; 18:12

 

 

XX == Ps 2:12 ; 34:8 ; 125:1 ; Isa 30:18 ; Jer 17:7

XXII == Prov 13:14 ; 14:27

 

 

 

XXIII == Ps 37:30 ; Matt 12:34

 

 

XXV == Prov 14:12

XXVI == Prov 9:12 ; Eccl 6:7

 

 

XXVIII == Prov 6:14 , 19 ; 15:18 ; 17:9 ; 26:21 ; 29:22

XXIX == Prov 1:10

 

 

XXXI == Prov 20:29

XXXII == Prov 19:11

 

 

1 Man may make plans in his heart, but what the tongue utters is from the LORD.

2 All the ways of a man may be pure in his own eyes, but it is the LORD who proves the spirit.

3 Entrust your works to the LORD, and your plans will succeed.

4 The LORD has made everything for his own ends, even the wicked for the evil day.

5 Every proud man is an abomination to the LORD; I assure you that he will not go unpunished.

6 By kindness and piety guilt is expiated, and by the fear of the LORD man avoids evil.

7 When the LORD is pleased with a man's ways, he makes even his enemies be at peace with him.

8 Better a little with virtue, than a large income with injustice.

9 In his mind a man plans his course, but the LORD directs his steps.

10 The king's lips are an oracle; no judgment he pronounces is false.

11 Balance and scales belong to the LORD; all the weights used with them are his concern.

12 Kings have a horror of wrongdoing, for by righteousness the throne endures.

13 The king takes delight in honest lips, and the man who speaks what is right he loves.

14 The king's wrath is like messengers of death, but a wise man can pacify it.

15 In the light of the king's countenance is life, and his favor is like a rain cloud in spring.

16 How much better to acquire wisdom than gold! To acquire understanding is more desirable than silver.

17 The path of the upright avoids misfortune; he who pays attention to his way safeguards his life.

18 Pride goes before disaster, and a haughty spirit before a fall.

19 It is better to be humble with the meek than to share plunder with the proud.

20 He who plans a thing will be successful; happy is he who trusts in the LORD!

21 The wise man is esteemed for his discernment, yet pleasing speech increases his persuasiveness.

22 Good sense is a fountain of life to its possessor, but folly brings chastisement on fools.

23 The mind of the wise man makes him eloquent, and augments the persuasiveness of his lips.

24 Pleasing words are a honeycomb, sweet to the taste and healthful to the body.

25 Sometimes a way seems right to a man, but the end of it leads to death!

26 The laborer's appetite labors for him, for his mouth urges him on.

27 A scoundrel is a furnace of evil, and on his lips there is a scorching fire.

28 An intriguer sows discord, and a talebearer separates bosom friends.

29 A lawless man allures his neighbor, and leads him into a way that is not good.

30 He who winks his eye is plotting trickery; he who compresses his lips has mischief ready.

31 Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained by virtuous living.

32 A patient man is better than a warrior, and he who rules his temper, than he who takes a city.

33 When the lot is cast into the lap, its decision depends entirely on the LORD.

v 1, 2, 3, 9, 25 all express that though our way seems right, God’s way is best, and 

 

v 3 involves committing everything unto the Lord.

v 4 is hard to understand, but God does reserve the wicked for judgment.

 

v 5, 18 , 19 strike hard at pride.

v 8 and 16 reinforce v 16, 17 of chapter 15, the relative unimportance of riches.

 

 

 

 

v 10-12 and 29 speak of the importance of integrity.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

v 24. Pleasant words are in such contrast to the evil words of v 27-30.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

v 31. Gray hair can be significant if the wearer is righteous.

v 32. Control of one’s anger is a powerful force. See also 15:1 comments.