Bible Reading Plan

¹ To humans belong the plans of the heart,
     but from the Lord comes the proper answer of the tongue.^(a)

² All a person's ways seem pure to them,^(b)
     but motives are weighed^(c) by the Lord .^(d)

³ Commit to the Lord whatever you do,
     and he will establish your plans.^(e)

⁴ The Lord works out everything to its proper end^(f)—
     even the wicked for a day of disaster.^(g)

⁵ The Lord detests all the proud of heart.^(h)
     Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.⁽ⁱ⁾

⁶ Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for;
     through the fear of the Lord ^(j) evil is avoided.^(k)

⁷ When the Lord takes pleasure in anyone's way,
     he causes their enemies to make peace^(l) with them.^(m)

⁸ Better a little with righteousness
     than much gain⁽ⁿ⁾ with injustice.^(o)

⁹ In their hearts humans plan their course,
     but the Lord establishes their steps.^(p)

¹⁰ The lips of a king speak as an oracle,
     and his mouth does not betray justice.^(q)

¹¹ Honest scales and balances belong to the Lord ;
     all the weights in the bag are of his making.^(r)

¹² Kings detest wrongdoing,
     for a throne is established through righteousness.^(s)

¹³ Kings take pleasure in honest lips;
     they value the one who speaks what is right.^(t)

¹⁴ A king's wrath is a messenger of death,^(u)
     but the wise will appease it.^(v)

¹⁵ When a king's face brightens, it means life;^(w)
     his favor is like a rain cloud in spring.^(x)

¹⁶ How much better to get wisdom than gold,
     to get insight^(y) rather than silver!^(z)

¹⁷ The highway of the upright avoids evil;
     those who guard their ways preserve their lives.^(aa)

¹⁸ Pride^(ab) goes before destruction,
     a haughty spirit^(ac) before a fall.^(ad)

¹⁹ Better to be lowly in spirit along with the oppressed
     than to share plunder with the proud.

²⁰ Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers,^[a](ae)
     and blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord .^(af)

²¹ The wise in heart are called discerning,
     and gracious words promote instruction.^[b](ag)

²² Prudence is a fountain of life to the prudent,^(ah)
     but folly brings punishment to fools.

²³ The hearts of the wise make their mouths prudent,^(ai)
     and their lips promote instruction.^[c](aj)

²⁴ Gracious words are a honeycomb,^(ak)
     sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.^(al)

²⁵ There is a way that appears to be right,^(am)
     but in the end it leads to death.^(an)

²⁶ The appetite of laborers works for them;
     their hunger drives them on.

²⁷ A scoundrel^(ao) plots evil,
     and on their lips it is like a scorching fire.^(ap)

²⁸ A perverse person stirs up conflict,^(aq)
     and a gossip separates close friends.^(ar)

²⁹ A violent person entices their neighbor
     and leads them down a path that is not good.^(as)

³⁰ Whoever winks^(at) with their eye is plotting perversity;
     whoever purses their lips is bent on evil.

³¹ Gray hair is a crown of splendor;^(au)
     it is attained in the way of righteousness.

³² Better a patient person than a warrior,
     one with self-control than one who takes a city.

³³ The lot is cast^(av) into the lap,
     but its every decision^(aw) is from the Lord .^(ax)