The Reply of the Tongue Is from the LORD 1 UDB A person makes plans out of his longings deep within him, but it is Yahweh who tells him what will happen. BSB BSB: The plans of the heart belong to man, but the reply of the tongue is from the LORD.
2 UDB A person sees nothing wrong with what he does, but Yahweh measures every part of what a person does according to his purposes. BSB BSB: All a man’s ways are pure in his own eyes, but his motives are weighed out by the LORD.
3 UDB When you work, give all your ideas and your labor to Yahweh, and your plans will be successful. BSB BSB: Commit your works to the LORD and your plans will be achieved.
4 UDB When Yahweh made all things, he made them so they would all accomplish something for him. He has even made wicked people for the day when there is great trouble. BSB BSB: The LORD has made everything for His purpose—even the wicked for the day of disaster.
5 UDB Yahweh hates those whose pride comes from deep within them. But you can be sure of this: They will still be punished for their pride. BSB BSB: Everyone who is proud in heart is detestable to the LORD; be assured that he will not go unpunished.
6 UDB Love and faithfulness will cover over sin and forgive sin. When people give Yahweh the respect he deserves, they will be able to turn away from doing what is evil. BSB BSB: By loving devotion and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the LORD one turns aside from evil.
7 UDB When a person pleases Yahweh by the way he lives his life, he even causes that person's enemies to get along with him. BSB BSB: When a man’s ways please the LORD, He makes even the man’s enemies live at peace with him.
8 UDB It is better to have a little money and to follow what is right than to have a large amount of money and to live by spreading injustice. BSB BSB: Better a little with righteousness than great gain with injustice.
9 UDB From deep within a person come the plans he makes, but Yahweh leads the person in each step he takes. BSB BSB: A man’s heart plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.
10 UDB A king can speak with inspired judgment, and when he makes a ruling, it is good and true. BSB BSB: A divine verdict is on the lips of a king; his mouth must not betray justice.
11 UDB Honest scales come from Yahweh; it is he who decided how much each unit should weigh. BSB BSB: Honest scales and balances are from the LORD; all the weights in the bag are His concern.
12 UDB We should hate it when kings do wicked things, for the throne is set on a firm foundation when the king does what is right. BSB BSB: Wicked behavior is detestable for kings, for a throne is established through righteousness.
13 UDB A king is happy when he hears someone speaking what is right, and he loves the one who is direct when he talks. BSB BSB: Righteous lips are a king’s delight, and he who speaks honestly is beloved.
14 UDB If a king becomes angry, his wrath is a danger that can kill, so wise people will try to calm him so that he is not too angry. BSB BSB: The wrath of a king is a messenger of death, but a wise man will pacify it.
15 UDB In a king's smile there is life; when he is happy, he is like the cloud that brings the spring rain. BSB BSB: When a king’s face brightens, there is life; his favor is like a rain cloud in spring.
16 UDB Becoming wise is better than having gold; getting good understanding is better than having silver. BSB BSB: How much better to acquire wisdom than gold! To gain understanding is more desirable than silver.
17 UDB The one who lives in the way that is right will turn away from doing evil; whoever is careful about how he lives his life will preserve his life. BSB BSB: The highway of the upright leads away from evil; he who guards his way protects his life.
18 UDB Pride happens to someone first, and then he perishes. If someone thinks he is better than others, he will have a terrible fall. BSB BSB: Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
19 UDB It is better to be humble and live among the poor than to receive a portion of what proud people took by force. BSB BSB: It is better to be lowly in spirit among the humble than to divide the spoil with the proud.
20 UDB Those who think about what they have been taught find many good things in the lesson; how fortunate are those who put their trust in Yahweh. BSB BSB: Whoever heeds instruction will find success, and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD.
21 UDB One who has wisdom deep inside him is given the title "discerning," and those who speak in a way that can be understood and can motivate their hearers teach well. BSB BSB: The wise in heart are called discerning, and pleasant speech promotes instruction.
22 UDB When you understand, it is as if you have found a fountain of life within you, but fools find their punishment when their foolishness comes back to them. BSB BSB: Understanding is a fountain of life to its possessor, but the discipline of fools is folly.
23 UDB From deep within him the wise person speaks from the insight he has learned, and so when he speaks he has the power to persuade others. BSB BSB: The heart of the wise man instructs his mouth and adds persuasiveness to his lips.
24 UDB Kind words are like a honeycomb; they are sweet for us to take in and they give healing to our bodies. BSB BSB: Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.
25 UDB A person lives out his life and he thinks he is doing what is right, but when he comes to the end of his life, all he finds is death. BSB BSB: There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.
26 UDB A worker's appetite drives him to work harder; his hunger urges him to keep working. BSB BSB: A worker’s appetite works for him because his hunger drives him onward.
27 UDB A worthless man digs and digs until he finds something he can use to embarrass someone and cause them trouble, and what he says about them is like a fire that burns the field. BSB BSB: A worthless man digs up evil, and his speech is like a scorching fire.
28 UDB A person who has no morals stirs up conflict between people, and those who spread rumors pull friends apart. BSB BSB: A perverse man spreads dissension, and a gossip divides close friends.
29 UDB A violent person tells lies to his friend, and he leads him down a path that will never find what is good. BSB BSB: A violent man entices his neighbor and leads him down a path that is not good.
30 UDB The one who winks the eye is signaling to others it is time to begin their terrible plot; those who press their lips together, they do evil things. BSB BSB: He who winks his eye devises perversity; he who purses his lips is bent on evil.
31 UDB Gray hair is like a glorious crown; it is given to those who live their lives by doing what is right. BSB BSB: Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is attained along the path of righteousness.
32 UDB The one who is slow to get angry is stronger than a warrior; the one who is self-controlled is mightier than one who conquers a city by force. BSB BSB: He who is slow to anger is better than a warrior, and he who controls his temper is greater than one who captures a city.
33 UDB People throw stones (they call them "lots") into the lap to make a decision, but Yahweh decides where each of the stones will stop rolling. BSB BSB: The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.