Proverbs 16

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 Man may make plans in his heart, but what the tongue utters is from the LORD.	1 It is for man to prepare the soul, and for the Lord to govern the tongue.
2 All the ways of a man may be pure in his own eyes, but it is the LORD who proves the spirit.	2 All the ways of a man are open to his eyes; the Lord is the one who weighs spirits.
3 Entrust your works to the LORD, and your plans will succeed.	3 Open your works to the Lord, and your intentions will be set in order.
4 The LORD has made everything for his own ends, even the wicked for the evil day.	4 The Lord has wrought all things because of himself. Likewise the impious is for the evil day.
5 Every proud man is an abomination to the LORD; I assure you that he will not go unpunished.	5 All 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 sacrifices.
6 By kindness and piety guilt is expiated, and by the fear of the LORD man avoids evil.	6 By mercy and truth, iniquity is redeemed. And by the fear of the Lord, one turns away from evil.
7 When the LORD is pleased with a man's ways, he makes even his enemies be at peace with him.	7 When the ways of man will please the Lord, he will convert even his enemies to peace.
8 Better a little with virtue, than a large income with injustice.	8 Better is a little with justice, than many fruits with iniquity.
9 In his mind a man plans his course, but the LORD directs his steps.	9 The heart of man disposes his way. But it is for Lord to direct his steps.
10 The king's lips are an oracle; no judgment he pronounces is false.	10 Foreknowledge is in the lips of the king. His mouth shall not err in judgment.
11 Balance and scales belong to the LORD; all the weights used with them are his concern.	11 Weights and scales are judgments of the Lord. And all the stones in the bag are his work.
12 Kings have a horror of wrongdoing, for by righteousness the throne endures.	12 Those who act impiously are abominable to the king. For the throne is made firm by justice.
13 The king takes delight in honest lips, and the man who speaks what is right he loves.	13 Just lips are the will of kings. He who speaks honestly shall be loved.
14 The king's wrath is like messengers of death, but a wise man can pacify it.	14 The indignation of a king is a herald of death. And the wise man will appease it.
15 In the light of the king's countenance is life, and his favor is like a rain cloud in spring.	15 In the cheerfulness of the king’s countenance, there is life. And his clemency is like belated rain.
16 How much better to acquire wisdom than gold! To acquire understanding is more desirable than silver.	16 Possess wisdom, for it is better than gold. And acquire prudence, for it is more precious than silver.
17 The path of the upright avoids misfortune; he who pays attention to his way safeguards his life.	17 The path of the just turns away from evils. He who guards his soul preserves his way.
18 Pride goes before disaster, and a haughty spirit before a fall.	18 Arrogance precedes destruction. And the spirit is exalted before a fall.
19 It is better to be humble with the meek than to share plunder with the proud.	19 It is better to be humbled with the meek, than to divide spoils with the arrogant.
20 He who plans a thing will be successful; happy is he who trusts in the LORD!	20 The learned in word shall find good things. And whoever hopes in the Lord is blessed.
21 The wise man is esteemed for his discernment, yet pleasing speech increases his persuasiveness.	21 Whoever is wise in heart shall be called prudent. And whoever is sweet in eloquence shall attain to what is greater.
22 Good sense is a fountain of life to its possessor, but folly brings chastisement on fools.	22 Learning is a fountain of life to one who possesses it. The doctrine of the foolish is senseless.
23 The mind of the wise man makes him eloquent, and augments the persuasiveness of his lips.	23 The heart of the wise shall instruct his mouth and add grace to his lips.
24 Pleasing words are a honeycomb, sweet to the taste and healthful to the body.	24 Careful words are a honeycomb: sweet to the soul and healthful to the bones.
25 Sometimes a way seems right to a man, but the end of it leads to death!	25 There is a way which seems right to a man, and its end result leads to death.
26 The laborer's appetite labors for him, for his mouth urges him on.	26 The soul of the laborer labors for himself, because his mouth has driven him to it.
27 A scoundrel is a furnace of evil, and on his lips there is a scorching fire.	27 The impious man digs up evil, and in his lips is a burning fire.
28 An intriguer sows discord, and a talebearer separates bosom friends.	28 A perverse man stirs up lawsuits. And one who is verbose divides leaders.
29 A lawless man allures his neighbor, and leads him into a way that is not good.	29 A man of iniquity entices his friend, and he leads him along a way that is not good.
30 He who winks his eye is plotting trickery; he who compresses his lips has mischief ready.	30 Whoever, with astonished eyes, thinks up depravities, biting his lips, accomplishes evil.
31 Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained by virtuous living.	31 Old age is a crown of dignity, when it is found in the ways of justice.
32 A patient man is better than a warrior, and he who rules his temper, than he who takes a city.	32 A patient man is better than a strong one. And whoever rules his soul is better than one who assaults cities.
33 When the lot is cast into the lap, its decision depends entirely on the LORD.	33 Lots are cast into the lap, but they are tempered by the Lord.