¹The preparations of the heart in man,
And the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD.
² All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes;
But the LORD weigheth the spirits.
³ Commit thy works unto the LORD,
And thy thoughts shall be established.
⁴ The LORD hath made all things for himself:
Yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.
⁵ Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD:
Though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.
⁶ By mercy and truth iniquity is purged:
And by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.
⁷ When a man’s ways please the LORD,
He maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.
⁸ Better is a little with righteousness
Than great revenues without right.
⁹ A man’s heart deviseth his way:
But the LORD directeth his steps.
¹⁰ A divine sentence is in the lips of the king:
His mouth transgresseth not in judgment.
¹¹ A just weight and balance are the LORD’s:
All the weights of the bag are his work.
¹² It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness:
For the throne is established by righteousness.
¹³ Righteous lips are the delight of kings;
And they love him that speaketh right.
¹⁴ The wrath of a king is as messengers of death:
But a wise man will pacify it.
¹⁵ In the light of the king’s countenance is life;
And his favour is as a cloud of the latter rain.
¹⁶ How much better is it to get wisdom than gold!
And to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!
¹⁷ The highway of the upright is to depart from evil:
He that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.
¹⁸ Pride goeth before destruction,
And an haughty spirit before a fall.
¹⁹ Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly,
Than to divide the spoil with the proud.
²⁰ He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good:
And whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he.
²¹ The wise in heart shall be called prudent:
And the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.
²² Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it:
But the instruction of fools is folly.
²³ The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth,
And addeth learning to his lips.
²⁴ Pleasant words are as an honeycomb,
Sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
²⁵ There is a way that seemeth right unto a man,
But the end thereof are the ways of death.
²⁶ He that laboureth laboureth for himself;
For his mouth craveth it of him.
²⁷ An ungodly man diggeth up evil:
And in his lips there is as a burning fire.
²⁸ A froward man soweth strife:
And a whisperer separateth chief friends.
²⁹ A violent man enticeth his neighbour,
And leadeth him into the way that is not good.
³⁰ He shutteth his eyes to devise froward things:
Moving his lips he bringeth evil to pass.
³¹ The hoary head is a crown of glory,
If it be found in the way of righteousness.
³² He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty;
And he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.
³³ The lot is cast into the lap;
But the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD.