1 The plans of the heart belong to man,

but *[Matt. 10:19,20]the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.

2 *ch. 21:2;[ch. 12:15]; See ch. 30:12All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes,

but the Lord*ch. 24:12;See 1 Sam. 16:7weighs the spirit.*16:2 Or spirits

3 *See Ps. 37:5Commit your work to the Lord,

and your plans will be established.

4 *Rom. 11:36The Lord has made everything for its purpose,

even *Job 21:30;[Ex. 9:16]the wicked for the day of trouble.

5 Everyone who is arrogant in heart is *ch. 6:16,17;8:13;Luke 16:15an abomination to the Lord;

*ch. 11:21;[ch. 28:20]be assured, he will not go unpunished.

6 By *Dan. 4:27steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for,

and by *ch. 14:16the fear of the Lord one *ver. 17;Job 28:28turns away from evil.

7 When a man’s ways please the Lord,

*[Gen. 26:28;2 Chr. 17:10]he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

8 *See ch. 15:16Better is a little with righteousness

than great revenues with injustice.

9 *[ver. 1; ch. 19:21] The heart of man plans his way,

but *ch. 20:24;[Ps. 37:23;Jer. 10:23]the Lord establishes his steps.

10 *[1 Kgs. 3:28]An oracle is on the lips of a king;

his mouth does not sin in judgment.

11 *See ch. 11:1A just balance and scales are the Lord’s;

all the weights in the bag are his work.

12 It is an abomination to kings to do evil,

for *ch. 25:5;[ch. 20:28;29:14;Isa. 16:5]the throne is established by righteousness.

13 *[ch. 14:35;22:11]Righteous lips are the delight of a king,

and he loves him who speaks what is right.

14 *ch. 19:12;20:2A king’s wrath is a messenger of death,

and a wise man will *[ch. 25:15]appease it.

15 *[Job 29:24] In the light of a king’s face there is life,

and his *[See ver. 13above] favor is like *[Ps. 72:6]; See Job 29:23the clouds that bring the spring rain.

16 *ch. 8:10,11,19How much better to get wisdom than *See ch. 3:14gold!

To get understanding is to be chosen rather than *ch. 10:20silver.

17 The highway of the upright *ver. 6turns aside from evil;

whoever guards his way preserves his life.

18 *See ch. 11:2Pride goes before destruction,

and a haughty spirit before a fall.

19 *ch. 29:23;Isa. 57:15It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor

than to *See Ex. 15:9divide the spoil with the proud.

20 Whoever gives thought to the word*16:20 Or to a matter*ch. 19:8will discover good,

and blessed is he *See Ps. 2:12who trusts in the Lord.

21 The wise of heart is called discerning,

and sweetness of speech *ver. 23increases persuasiveness.

22 Good sense is *See ch. 10:11a fountain of life to him who has it,

but the instruction of fools is folly.

23 *[Ps. 37:30;Matt. 12:34]The heart of the wise makes his speech judicious

and adds persuasiveness to his lips.

24 *ch. 15:26Gracious words are like *Ps. 19:10a honeycomb,

sweetness to the soul and *See ch. 4:22health to the body.

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

but its end is the way to death.*16:25 Hebrew ways of death

26 A worker’s appetite works for him;

his *[Eccles. 6:7]mouth urges him on.

27 *[ch. 6:12,14,19] A worthless man plots evil,

and his speech*16:27 Hebrew what is on his lips is like *James 3:6a scorching fire.

28 *See ch. 15:18A dishonest man spreads strife,

and *[ch. 18:8;26:20,22] a whisperer *ch. 17:9separates close friends.

29 A man of violence *ch. 1:10entices his neighbor

and leads him in a way that is not good.

30 Whoever winks his eyes plans*16:30 Hebrew to plan*See ch. 2:12dishonest things;

he who *[ch. 6:13]purses his lips brings evil to pass.

31 *ch. 20:29Gray hair is *ch. 17:6a crown of glory;

it *See ch. 3:1,2is gained in a righteous life.

32 *ch. 14:29;[ch. 19:11;25:28]Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty,

and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.

33 *[Acts 1:26] The lot is cast into the lap,

but its every decision is *ch. 29:26from the Lord.