| Chapter 16 |
1 | It is the part of man to prepare the soul: and of the Lord to govern the tongue. |
2 | All the ways of a man are open to his eyes: the Lord is the weigher of spirits. |
3 | Lay open thy works to the Lord: and thy thoughts shall be directed. |
4 | The Lord hath made all things for himself: the wicked also for the evil day. |
5 | Every proud man is an abomination to the Lord: though hand should 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 offer sacrifices. |
6 | By mercy and truth iniquity is redeemed: and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil. |
7 | When the ways of man shall please the Lord, he will convert even his enemies to peace. |
8 | Better is a little with justice, than great revenues with iniquity. |
9 | The heart of man disposeth his way: but the Lord must direct his steps. |
10 | Divination is in the lips of the king, his mouth shall not err in judgment. |
11 | Weight and balance are judgments of the Lord: and his work all the weights of the bag. |
12 | They that act wickedly are abominable to the king: for the throne is established by justice. |
13 | Just lips are the delight of kings: he that speaketh right things shall be loved. |
14 | The wrath of a king is as messengers of death : and the wise man will pacify it. |
15 | In the cheerfulness of the king's countenance is life: and his clemency is like the latter rain. |
16 | Get wisdom, because it is better than gold: and purchase prudence, for it is more precious than silver. |
17 | The path of the just departeth from evils: he that keepeth his soul keepeth his way. |
18 | Pride goeth before destruction: and the spirit is lifted up before a fall. |
19 | It is better to be humbled with the meek, than to divide spoils with the proud. |
20 | The learned in word shall find good things: and he that trusteth in the Lord is blessed. |
21 | The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and he that is sweet in words shall attain to greater things. |
22 | Knowledge is a fountain of life to him that possesseth it: the instruction of fools is foolishness. |
23 | The heart of the wise shall instruct his mouth: and shall add grace to his lips. |
24 | Well ordered words are as a honeycomb: sweet to the soul, and health to the bones. |
25 | There is a way that seemeth to a man right: and the ends thereof lead to death. |
26 | The soul of him that laboureth, laboureth for himself, because his mouth hath obliged him to it. |
27 | The wicked man diggeth evil, and in his lips is a burning fire. |
28 | A perverse man stirreth up quarrels: and one full of words separateth princes. |
29 | An unjust man allureth his friend: and leadeth him into a way that is not good |
30 | He that with fixed eyes deviseth· wicked things, biting his lips, bringeth: evil to pass. |
31 | Old age is a crown of dignity, when it is found in the ways of justice. |
32 | The patient man is better than the valiant: and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh cities. |
33 | Lots are cast into the lap, but they are disposed of by the Lord. |