Back to BooksSimple English

Proverbs

Offers wisdom and advice on how to live a good and meaningful life.

Chapter 16

Back to Chapters

1 The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD.

*The way we prepare our hearts and the words we say come from God.

2 All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits.

*Men think their actions are good, but God judges people's true nature.

3 Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.

*Trust your work to God, and your thoughts will become stronger.

4 The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.

*God created everything for His own purposes, including bad people for a terrible day.

5 Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.

*Anyone who has a proud heart is very displeasing to God. Even if they are part of a group, they will still face punishment.

6 By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.

*Through kindness and honesty, wrongdoing is removed, and people avoid bad things when they respect the Lord.

7 When a man’s ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.

*When a person does what God likes, He makes even their enemies calm down towards them.

8 Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right.

*It's better to have a small amount of money if you are fair and honest, than to have a lot of money but not be fair or honest.

9 A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.

*A person's choices determine their path, but God guides their journey.

10 A divine sentence is in the lips of the king: his mouth transgresseth not in judgment.

*A godly rule comes from the king's mouth: he doesn't go wrong when making decisions.

11 A just weight and balance are the LORD’s: all the weights of the bag are his work.

*The LORD likes fairness and balance. He is the one who makes all the scales and weighing tools work properly.

12 It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is established by righteousness.

*It's very bad for kings to do wrong things: the throne stays strong when they do what's right.

13 Righteous lips are the delight of kings; and they love him that speaketh right.

*Good lips make kings happy, and they like people who talk properly.

14 The wrath of a king is as messengers of death: but a wise man will pacify it.

*A king's anger is like deadly messengers, but a smart person can calm it down.

15 In the light of the king’s countenance is life; and his favour is as a cloud of the latter rain.

*In the king's good favor, there is life; his support is like the rain coming after a long dry spell.

16 How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!

*It's way better to gain wisdom than to have gold, and getting understanding is even better than having lots of silver.

17 The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.

*The path for good people is to avoid wrongdoing; those who follow this path protect their lives.

18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

*Pride comes before a downfall, and being too proud leads to failure.

19 Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.

*It's better to have a humble attitude with ordinary people than to share stolen goods with arrogant ones.

20 He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he.

*Handling things wisely leads to goodness, and trusting in the Lord brings happiness.

21 The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.

*Wise-hearted people are called smart, and having nice lips helps you learn more.

22 Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the instruction of fools is folly.

*Understanding brings life, but teaching fools is pointless.

23 The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips.

*The wise person's heart teaches what to say, and adds knowledge to their words.

24 Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.

*Nice words are like a honeycomb, they're sweet for the heart and good for your bones.

25 There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

*A path may look good to someone, but it can lead to dangerous outcomes.

26 He that laboureth laboureth for himself; for his mouth craveth it of him.

*Who works hard does so for themselves, as their mouth wants them to do it.

27 An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips there is as a burning fire.

*A bad person finds trouble: their words are like a burning flame.

28 A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.

*A stubborn person causes conflict: and a gossip separates close friends.

29 A violent man enticeth his neighbour, and leadeth him into the way that is not good.

*A aggressive person tempts their neighbor and guides them down a bad path.

30 He shutteth his eyes to devise froward things: moving his lips he bringeth evil to pass.

*He closes his eyes to plan tricky schemes: moving his lips, he makes bad things happen.

31 The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness.

*A gray head is like a glory, if it's on the path of doing what's right.

32 He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.

*Being patient is better than being strong; controlling your emotions is better than conquering a city.

33 The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD.

*A decision has been made, but ultimately, it's God who controls the outcome.

read summary

Back to Chapters

Back to Books

* work in progress, there will be mistakes