The Reply of the Tongue Is from the LORD 1 UST People plan what they want{ to say}, but Yahweh determines how they will{ actually} speak. BSB BSB: The plans of the heart belong to man, but the reply of the tongue is from the LORD.
2 UST People think that everything that they do is right, but Yahweh knows why people do what they do. BSB BSB: All a man’s ways are pure in his own eyes, but his motives are weighed out by the LORD.
3 UST Entrust what you do to Yahweh, and he will make what you plan{ to do} succeed. BSB BSB: Commit your works to the LORD and your plans will be achieved.
4 UST When Yahweh made everything, he planned what would happen to each thing. He has even made wicked people for the time when he will punish them. BSB BSB: The LORD has made everything for His purpose—even the wicked for the day of disaster.
5 UST Yahweh detests all proud people; he will certainly punish them. BSB BSB: Everyone who is proud in heart is detestable to the LORD; be assured that he will not go unpunished.
6 UST Be loyal to Yahweh and faithfully obey him; if you do that, he will forgive you for having sinned. People who revere Yahweh will avoid 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 UST When Yahweh approves of what people do, he even causes their enemies to be peaceful with them. BSB BSB: When a man’s ways please the LORD, He makes even the man’s enemies live at peace with him.
8 UST It is better{ for someone} to have{ just} a few things while being righteous, than{ for someone} to have a lot of crops while being unjust. BSB BSB: Better a little with righteousness than great gain with injustice.
9 UST People plan what they want to do, but Yahweh determines what they will{ actually} do. BSB BSB: A man’s heart plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.
10 UST Kings speak for God; when kings judge, they must{ always} speak justly. BSB BSB: A divine verdict is on the lips of a king; his mouth must not betray justice.
11 UST Yahweh made accurate weighing instruments{ for us to use honestly}. Indeed, he made all the stones in the{ weighing} bag{ so that we would use them honestly}. BSB BSB: Honest scales and balances are from the LORD; all the weights in the bag are His concern.
12 UST Kings{ should} detest any wicked thing that people do because acting righteously causes kings to rule securely. BSB BSB: Wicked behavior is detestable for kings, for a throne is established through righteousness.
13 UST { Ideally,} kings enjoy hearing people speak honestly. Indeed, they love people who say what is true. BSB BSB: Righteous lips are a king’s delight, and he who speaks honestly is beloved.
14 UST When kings are angry, they cause people to die, so wise people will appease them. BSB BSB: The wrath of a king is a messenger of death, but a wise man will pacify it.
15 UST When kings are happy, they let people live; when they approve of people, it is as refreshing as rain in springtime. BSB BSB: When a king’s face brightens, there is life; his favor is like a rain cloud in spring.
16 UST Becoming wise is better than having gold. Indeed, it is better to choose to become understanding than to have silver. BSB BSB: How much better to acquire wisdom than gold! To gain understanding is more desirable than silver.
17 UST Upright people act in a way that avoids doing what is evil; people who want to stay alive are careful about what they do. BSB BSB: The highway of the upright leads away from evil; he who guards his way protects his life.
18 UST Being proud causes people to destroy themselves. Indeed, being arrogant causes people to ruin themselves. BSB BSB: Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
19 UST It is better to live humbly among poor people than to{ live proudly and} receive some of what proud people have taken from others. BSB BSB: It is better to be lowly in spirit among the humble than to divide the spoil with the proud.
20 UST People who act prudently in a matter will succeed, and people who trust in Yahweh are happy. BSB BSB: Whoever heeds instruction will find success, and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD.
21 UST People will call those who think wisely,“understanding ones,” and people who speak pleasantly are able to teach others effectively. BSB BSB: The wise in heart are called discerning, and pleasant speech promotes instruction.
22 UST Being insightful allows a person to live well continually, but foolish people can only teach others to be foolish. BSB BSB: Understanding is a fountain of life to its possessor, but the discipline of fools is folly.
23 UST What wise people think causes them to speak insightfully, and what those people say causes others to learn. BSB BSB: The heart of the wise man instructs his mouth and adds persuasiveness to his lips.
24 UST The pleasing things that people say are{ like} a honeycomb: They cause people to feel pleasant and healthy. BSB BSB: Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.
25 UST There is a way to do things that is easy and convenient for people, but in the end, doing things that way will cause them to die. BSB BSB: There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.
26 UST Being hungry helps working people work because wanting to eat motivates people to keep on working. BSB BSB: A worker’s appetite works for him because his hunger drives him onward.
27 UST Worthless people plot how to hurt others; the evil things they say harm others like fire burns{ people}. BSB BSB: A worthless man digs up evil, and his speech is like a scorching fire.
28 UST Perverse people cause other people to argue with each other, and people who gossip about others cause friends to stop being friends. BSB BSB: A perverse man spreads dissension, and a gossip divides close friends.
29 UST Violent people tempt other people{ to sin}, and they guide them to behave wickedly. BSB BSB: A violent man entices his neighbor and leads him down a path that is not good.
30 UST People who use their eyes to signal to others are planning to do something perverse; people who use their lips to signal to others are about to do the evil thing{ that they had planned to do}. BSB BSB: He who winks his eye devises perversity; he who purses his lips is bent on evil.
31 UST { The} gray hair{ that old people have} is{ like} an honorable crown{ on their heads}; they achieve it by living righteously. BSB BSB: Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is attained along the path of righteousness.
32 UST It is better to be someone who does not become angry quickly than to be powerful. It is better to control oneself than to be{ as powerful as} someone who conquers a city. 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 UST People throw lots{ in order to decide what to do}, but Yahweh decides whatever happens. 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.