International Standard Version

New American Standard Bible 1995

1People do the planning, but the end result is from the LORD.

1The plans of the heart belong to man, But the answer of the tongue is from the LORD.

2Everything a person does seems pure in his own opinion, but the LORD weighs intentions.

2All the ways of a man are clean in his own sight, But the LORD weighs the motives.

3Entrust your work to the LORD, and your planning will succeed.

3Commit your works to the LORD And your plans will be established.

4The LORD made everything answerable to him, including the wicked at the time of trouble.

4The LORD has made everything for its own purpose, Even the wicked for the day of evil.

5The LORD detests those who are proud; truly they will not go unpunished.

5Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD; Assuredly, he will not be unpunished.

6Iniquity is atoned for by gracious love and truth, and through fear of the LORD people turn from evil.

6By lovingkindness and truth iniquity is atoned for, And by the fear of the LORD one keeps away from evil.

7When a person's ways please the LORD, even his enemies will be at peace with him.

7When a man's ways are pleasing to the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

8A little gain with righteousness is better than great income without justice.

8Better is a little with righteousness Than great income with injustice.

9A person plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps.

9The mind of man plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps.

10When a king is ready to speak officially, what he says should not err with respect to justice.

10A divine decision is in the lips of the king; His mouth should not err in judgment.

11Honest scales and balances are from the LORD; he made all the weights in the bag.

11A just balance and scales belong to the LORD; All the weights of the bag are His concern.

12Kings detest wrongdoing, for through righteousness the throne is established.

12It is an abomination for kings to commit wicked acts, For a throne is established on righteousness.

13Kings take pleasure in righteous speech; they treasure a person who speaks what is upright.

13Righteous lips are the delight of kings, And he who speaks right is loved.

14The king's wrath results in a death sentence, but whoever is wise will appease him.

14The fury of a king is like messengers of death, But a wise man will appease it.

15When a king is pleased, there is life, and his favor is like a cloud that brings spring rain.

15In the light of a king's face is life, And his favor is like a cloud with the spring rain.

16How much better than gaining gold is the acquisition of wisdom, the attainment of wisdom better than silver!

16How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen above silver.

17The road of the upright circumvents evil, and whoever watches how he lives preserves his life.

17The highway of the upright is to depart from evil; He who watches his way preserves his life.

18Pride precedes destruction; an arrogant spirit appears before a fall.

18Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before stumbling.

19Better to be humble among the poor, than to share what is stolen with the proud.

19It is better to be humble in spirit with the lowly Than to divide the spoil with the proud.

20Whoever listens to a word of instruction prospers, and anyone who trusts in the LORD is blessed.

20He who gives attention to the word will find good, And blessed is he who trusts in the LORD.

21The wise-hearted person is told to be discerning, and that pleasant speech promotes instruction.

21The wise in heart will be called understanding, And sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness.

22Anyone who has understanding is a fountain of life, but foolishness brings punishment to fools.

22Understanding is a fountain of life to one who has it, But the discipline of fools is folly.

23A wise person's thoughts control his words, and his speech promotes instruction.

23The heart of the wise instructs his mouth And adds persuasiveness to his lips.

24Pleasant words are honey from a honeycomb— sweet to the soul and healing for the body.

24Pleasant words are a honeycomb, Sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

25There is a road that seems right for a man to travel, but in the end it's the road to death.

25There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.

26The appetite of the laborer motivates him; indeed, his hunger drives him on.

26A worker's appetite works for him, For his hunger urges him on.

27A worthless person concocts evil gossip — his lips are like a burning fire.

27A worthless man digs up evil, While his words are like scorching fire.

28A deceitful man stirs dissension, and anyone who gossips separates friends.

28A perverse man spreads strife, And a slanderer separates intimate friends.

29A violent man entices his companion and leads him on a path that is not good.

29A man of violence entices his neighbor And leads him in a way that is not good.

30Whoever winks knowingly is plotting deceit; anyone who purses his lips is bent towards evil.

30He who winks his eyes does so to devise perverse things; He who compresses his lips brings evil to pass.

31Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is obtained by following a righteous path.

31A gray head is a crown of glory; It is found in the way of righteousness.

32Whoever controls his temper is better than a warrior, and anyone who has control of his spirit is better than someone who captures a city.

32He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules his spirit, than he who captures a city.

33The dice is cast into someone's lap, but the outcome is from the LORD.

33The lot is cast into the lap, But its every decision is from the LORD.

The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org