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