Proverbs 16  New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition

16 The plans of the mind belong to mortals,
    but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
² All one’s ways may be pure in one’s own eyes,
    but the Lord weighs the spirit.
³ Commit your work to the Lord,
    and your plans will be established.
⁴ The Lord has made everything for its purpose,
    even the wicked for the day of trouble.
⁵ All those who are arrogant are an abomination to the Lord;
    be assured, they will not go unpunished.
⁶ By loyalty and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for,
    and by the fear of the Lord one avoids evil.
⁷ When the ways of people please the Lord,
    he causes even their enemies to be at peace with them.
⁸ Better is a little with righteousness
    than large income with injustice.
⁹ The human mind plans the way,
    but the Lord directs the steps.
¹⁰ Inspired decisions are on the lips of a king;
    his mouth does not sin in judgment.
¹¹ Honest balances and scales are the Lord’s;
    all the weights in the bag are his work.
¹² It is an abomination to kings to do evil,
    for the throne is established by righteousness.
¹³ Righteous lips are the delight of a king,
    and he loves those who speak what is right.
¹⁴ A king’s wrath is a messenger of death,
    and whoever is wise will appease it.
¹⁵ In the light of a king’s face there is life,
    and his favor is like the clouds that bring the spring rain.
¹⁶ How much better to get wisdom than gold!
    To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.
¹⁷ The highway of the upright avoids evil;
    those who guard their way preserve their lives.
¹⁸ Pride goes before destruction,
    and a haughty spirit before a fall.
¹⁹ It is better to be of a lowly spirit among the poor
    than to divide the spoil with the proud.
²⁰ Those who are attentive to a matter will prosper,
    and happy are those who trust in the Lord.
²¹ The wise of heart is called perceptive,
    and pleasant speech increases persuasiveness.
²² Wisdom is a fountain of life to one who has it,
    but folly is the punishment of fools.
²³ The mind of the wise makes their speech judicious,
    and adds persuasiveness to their lips.
²⁴ Pleasant words are like a honeycomb,
    sweetness to the soul and health to the body.
²⁵ Sometimes there is a way that seems to be right,
    but in the end it is the way to death.
²⁶ The appetite of workers works for them;
    their hunger urges them on.
²⁷ Scoundrels concoct evil,
    and their speech is like a scorching fire.
²⁸ A perverse person spreads strife,
    and a whisperer separates close friends.
²⁹ The violent entice their neighbors,
    and lead them in a way that is not good.
³⁰ One who winks the eyes plans^[a] perverse things;
    one who compresses the lips brings evil to pass.
³¹ Gray hair is a crown of glory;
    it is gained in a righteous life.
³² One who is slow to anger is better than the mighty,
    and one whose temper is controlled than one who captures a city.
³³ The lot is cast into the lap,
    but the decision is the Lord’s alone.