Proverbs · 33 verses
Proverbs 16
Every verse links to the people and places named in it, and to the passages readers connect it with.
The chapter
What happens here
Atlas's own reading, written from this chapter and nothing else, and published only once a person has approved it. Each scene names the verses it covers; the names inside it link to the people and places they name.
A lot is tossed into a lap, and every decision it produces is assigned to the LORD.
Plans, kings, and the weights in the bagvv. 1–15
The heart makes its plans, the tongue replies, and the LORD weighs motives and determines steps. Everything, even the wicked for the day of disaster, has its purpose. Then the chapter turns to kings: their lips must not betray justice, their thrones are established through righteousness, and the LORD takes an interest in the scales, balances, and weights tucked into a bag. A king’s wrath is a messenger of death; a wise man may yet pacify it. His brightened face, by contrast, is life, with favor arriving like a spring rain-cloud.
The better road, and the dangerous onevv. 16–25
Wisdom is priced above gold and understanding above silver. The upright take a highway away from evil, while pride marches ahead of destruction with the confidence of a man who has plainly not looked at the scenery. The humble may divide no spoil and still be better placed than the proud. Instruction, discernment, understanding, and pleasant speech follow one another here, until a familiar-looking road receives its curious destination: a way may seem right to a man and end in death.
Hunger, gossip, anger, and the lotvv. 26–33
A worker’s appetite drives him onward, a worthless man digs up evil, and speech becomes either scorching fire or a wedge between close friends. The violent man entices his neighbor down a bad path; a wink and pursed lips quietly reveal perversity and evil. Gray hair appears as a crown along the path of righteousness, while the slow-to-anger man surpasses the warrior and the self-controlled man surpasses the city-capturer. At the end, the lot is cast into the lap, but its decision has not escaped the LORD.
The text
Read it
Berean Standard Bible, public domain. Names the Hebrew and Greek put in the verse link to the person, place or people they name; the address beside each verse is a link to that verse, which is what a reader copies and shares.
Prov 16:1The plans of the heart belong to man, but the reply of the tongue is from the LORD.
Prov 16:2All a man’s ways are pure in his own eyes, but his motives are weighed out by the LORD.
Prov 16:3Commit your works to the LORD and your plans will be achieved.
Prov 16:4The LORD has made everything for His purpose—even the wicked for the day of disaster.
Prov 16:5Everyone who is proud in heart is detestable to the LORD; be assured that he will not go unpunished.
Prov 16:6By loving devotion and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the LORD one turns aside from evil.
Prov 16:7When a man’s ways please the LORD, He makes even the man’s enemies live at peace with him.
Prov 16:8Better a little with righteousness than great gain with injustice.
Prov 16:9A man’s heart plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.
Prov 16:10A divine verdict is on the lips of a king; his mouth must not betray justice.
Prov 16:11Honest scales and balances are from the LORD; all the weights in the bag are His concern.
Prov 16:12Wicked behavior is detestable for kings, for a throne is established through righteousness.
Prov 16:13Righteous lips are a king’s delight, and he who speaks honestly is beloved.
Prov 16:14The wrath of a king is a messenger of death, but a wise man will pacify it.
Prov 16:15When a king’s face brightens, there is life; his favor is like a rain cloud in spring.
Prov 16:16How much better to acquire wisdom than gold! To gain understanding is more desirable than silver.
Prov 16:17The highway of the upright leads away from evil; he who guards his way protects his life.
Prov 16:18Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
Prov 16:19It is better to be lowly in spirit among the humble than to divide the spoil with the proud.
Prov 16:20Whoever heeds instruction will find success, and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD.
Prov 16:21The wise in heart are called discerning, and pleasant speech promotes instruction.
Prov 16:22Understanding is a fountain of life to its possessor, but the discipline of fools is folly.
Prov 16:23The heart of the wise man instructs his mouth and adds persuasiveness to his lips.
Prov 16:24Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.
Prov 16:25There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.
Prov 16:26A worker’s appetite works for him because his hunger drives him onward.
Prov 16:27A worthless man digs up evil, and his speech is like a scorching fire.
Prov 16:28A perverse man spreads dissension, and a gossip divides close friends.
Prov 16:29A violent man entices his neighbor and leads him down a path that is not good.
Prov 16:30He who winks his eye devises perversity; he who purses his lips is bent on evil.
Prov 16:31Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is attained along the path of righteousness.
Prov 16:32He who is slow to anger is better than a warrior, and he who controls his temper is greater than one who captures a city.
Prov 16:33The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.
02 — Read alongside
Where this is echoed
Readers' own connections, from OpenBible's crowd-voted cross-references — agreement about relevance, and not scholarly confidence. 366 passages were voted onto 33 verses of this chapter; the 16 shown lead on votes, and each is listed at the verse it was voted onto most strongly.
- 3Psalms 37:4–5Delight yourself in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart.
- 3Proverbs 3:6in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.
- 3Psalms 55:22Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken.
- 3Philippians 4:6Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
- 9Proverbs 19:21Many plans are in a man’s heart, but the purpose of the LORD will prevail.
- 31 Peter 5:7Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.
- 9Psalms 37:23The steps of a man are ordered by the LORD who takes delight in his journey.
- 3Job 22:28Your decisions will be carried out, and light will shine on your ways.
- 3Job 5:8However, if I were you, I would appeal to God and lay my cause before Him—
- 9Proverbs 16:1The plans of the heart belong to man, but the reply of the tongue is from the LORD.
- 9Proverbs 20:24A man’s steps are from the LORD, so how can anyone understand his own way?
- 3Luke 12:22Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear.
- 9Jeremiah 10:23I know, O LORD, that a man’s way is not his own; no one who walks directs his own steps.
- 3Matthew 6:25–34Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?
- 9Proverbs 21:30There is no wisdom, no understanding, no counsel that can prevail against the LORD.
- 9Isaiah 46:10I declare the end from the beginning, and from ancient times what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and all My good pleasure I will accomplish.’
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