Proverbs 16:8-30

⁸Better is a little with righteousness, than great wealth with wrongdoing.

⁹A man may make designs for his way, but the Lord is the guide of his steps.

¹⁰Decision is in the lips of the king: his mouth will not go wrong in judging.

¹¹True measures and scales are the Lord's: all the weights of the bag are his work.

¹²Evil-doing is disgusting to kings: for the seat of the ruler is based on righteousness.

¹³Lips of righteousness are the delight of kings; and he who says what is upright is dear to him.

¹⁴The wrath of the king is like those who give news of death, but a wise man will put peace in place of it.

¹⁵In the light of the king's face there is life; and his approval is like a cloud of spring rain.

¹⁶How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! and to get knowledge is more to be desired than silver.

¹⁷The highway of the upright is to be turned away from evil: he who takes care of his way will keep his soul.

¹⁸Pride goes before destruction, and a stiff spirit before a fall.

¹⁹Better it is to have a gentle spirit with the poor, than to take part in the rewards of war with men of pride.

²⁰He who gives attention to the law of right will get good; and whoever puts his faith in the Lord is happy.

²¹The wise-hearted will be named men of good sense: and by pleasing words learning is increased.

²²Wisdom is a fountain of life to him who has it; but the punishment of the foolish is their foolish behaviour.

²³The heart of the wise man is the teacher of his mouth, and gives increased learning to his lips.

²⁴Pleasing words are like honey, sweet to the soul and new life to the bones.

²⁵There is a way which seems straight before a man, but its end is the ways of death.

²⁶The desire of the working man is working for him, for his need of food is driving him on.

²⁷A good-for-nothing man is a designer of evil, and in his lips there is a burning fire.

²⁸A man of twisted purposes is a cause of fighting everywhere: and he who says evil secretly makes trouble between friends.

²⁹A violent man puts desire of evil into his neighbour's mind, and makes him go in a way which is not good.

³⁰He whose eyes are shut is a man of twisted purposes, and he who keeps his lips shut tight makes evil come about.