¹The plans of the heart belong to man ,

but the answer of the tongue is from the LORD .

²All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes ,

but the LORD weighs the motives .

³Commit your deeds to the LORD ,

and your plans shall succeed.

⁴The LORD has made everything for its own end—

yes , even the wicked for the day of evil .

⁵Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD ;

they shall certainly not be unpunished .

⁶By mercy and truth iniquity is atoned for .

By the fear of the LORD men depart from evil .

⁷When a man’s ways please the LORD ,

he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him .

⁸Better is a little with righteousness ,

than great revenues with injustice .

⁹A man ’s heart plans his course ,

but the LORD directs his steps .

¹⁰Inspired judgements are on the lips of the king .

He shall not betray his mouth .

¹¹Honest balances and scales are the LORD ’s;

all the weights in the bag are his work .

¹²It is an abomination for kings to do wrong,

for the throne is established by righteousness .

¹³Righteous lips are the delight of kings .

They value one who speaks the truth.

¹⁴The king ’s wrath is a messenger of death ,

but a wise man will pacify it .

¹⁵In the light of the king ’s face is life .

His favour is like a cloud of the spring rain .

¹⁶How much better it is to get wisdom than gold !

Yes, to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver .

¹⁷The highway of the upright is to depart from evil .

He who keeps his way preserves his soul .

¹⁸Pride goes before destruction ,

and an arrogant spirit before a fall .

¹⁹It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor ,

than to divide the plunder with the proud .

²⁰He who heeds the Word finds prosperity .

Whoever trusts in the LORD is blessed.

²¹The wise in heart shall be called prudent.

Pleasantness of the lips promotes instruction .

²²Understanding is a fountain of life to one who has it,

but the punishment of fools is their folly.

²³The heart of the wise instructs his mouth ,

and adds learning to his lips .

²⁴Pleasant words are a honeycomb ,

sweet to the soul , and health to the bones .

²⁵There is a way which seems right to a man ,

but in the end it leads to death .

²⁶The appetite of the labouring man labours for him ,

for his mouth urges him on .

²⁷A worthless man devises mischief .

His speech is like a scorching fire.

²⁸A perverse man stirs up strife .

A whisperer separates close friends .

²⁹A man of violence entices his neighbour ,

and leads him in a way that is not good .

³⁰One who winks his eyes to plot perversities,

one who compresses his lips , is bent on evil .

³¹Grey hair is a crown of glory .

It is attained by a life of righteousness .

³²One who is slow to anger is better than the mighty ;

one who rules his spirit , than he who takes a city .

³³The lot is cast into the lap ,

but its every decision is from the LORD .