- 1The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
- 2All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the Lord weighs the motives.
- 3Commit your deeds to the Lord, and your plans shall succeed.
- 4The Lord has made everything for its own end— yes, even the wicked for the day of evil.
- 5Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord: they shall certainly not be unpunished.
- 6By mercy and truth iniquity is atoned for. By the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.
- 7When a man’s ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
- 8Better is a little with righteousness, than great revenues with injustice.
- 9A man’s heart plans his course, but the Lord directs his steps.
- 10Inspired judgments are on the lips of the king. He shall not betray his mouth.
- 11Honest balances and scales are the Lord’s; all the weights in the bag are his work.
- 12It is an abomination for kings to do wrong, for the throne is established by righteousness.
- 13Righteous lips are the delight of kings. They value one who speaks the truth.
- 14The king’s wrath is a messenger of death, but a wise man will pacify it.
- 15In the light of the king’s face is life. His favor is like a cloud of the spring rain.
- 16How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! Yes, to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.
- 17The highway of the upright is to depart from evil. He who keeps his way preserves his soul.
- 18Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
- 19It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor, than to divide the plunder with the proud.
- 20He who heeds the Word finds prosperity. Whoever trusts in the Lord is blessed.
- 21The wise in heart shall be called prudent. Pleasantness of the lips promotes instruction.
- 22Understanding is a fountain of life to one who has it, but the punishment of fools is their folly.
- 23The heart of the wise instructs his mouth, and adds learning to his lips.
- 24Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
- 25There is a way which seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.
- 26The appetite of the laboring man labors for him; for his mouth urges him on.
- 27A worthless man devises mischief. His speech is like a scorching fire.
- 28A perverse man stirs up strife. A whisperer separates close friends.
- 29A man of violence entices his neighbor, and leads him in a way that is not good.
- 30One who winks his eyes to plot perversities, one who compresses his lips, is bent on evil.
- 31Gray hair is a crown of glory. It is attained by a life of righteousness.
- 32One who is slow to anger is better than the mighty; one who rules his spirit, than he who takes a city.
- 33The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.