Daily Wisdom Plan

Proverbs 16,17,18

Proverbs 16

1The plans of the heart belong to a person, But the answer of the tongue is from the LORD.

2All the ways of a person are clean in his own sight, But the LORD examines the motives.

3Commit your works to the LORD, And your plans will be established.

4The LORD has made everything for its own purpose, Even the wicked for the day of evil.

5Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD; Be assured, he will not go unpunished.

6By mercy and truth atonement is made for wrongdoing, And by the fear of the LORD one keeps away from evil.

7When a person’s ways are pleasing to the LORD, He causes even his enemies to make peace with him.

8Better is a little with righteousness Than great income with injustice.

9The mind of a person plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps.

10A divine verdict is on the lips of the king; His mouth should not err in judgment.

11A just balance and scales belong to the LORD; All the weights of the bag are His concern.

12It is an abomination for kings to commit wicked acts, Because a throne is established on righteousness.

13Righteous lips are the delight of kings, And one who speaks right is loved.

14The fury of a king is like messengers of death; But a wise person will appease it.

15In the light of a king’s face is life, And his favor is like a cloud with the spring rain.

16How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen above silver.

17The highway of the upright is to turn away from evil; One who watches his way protects his life.

18Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before stumbling.

19It is better to be humble in spirit with the needy Than to divide the spoils with the proud.

20One who pays attention to the word will find good, And blessed is one who trusts in the LORD.

21The wise in heart will be called understanding, And sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness.

22Understanding is a fountain of life to those who have it, But the discipline of fools is foolishness.

23The heart of the wise instructs his mouth And adds persuasiveness to his lips.

24Pleasant words are a honeycomb, Sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

25There is a way which seems right to a person, But its end is the way of death.

26A worker’s appetite works for him, For his hunger urges him on.

27A worthless person digs up evil, While his words are like scorching fire.

28A perverse person spreads strife, And a slanderer separates close friends.

29A person of violence entices his neighbor And leads him in a way that is not good.

30He who winks his eyes does so to devise perverse things; He who compresses his lips brings evil to pass.

31A gray head is a crown of glory; It is found in the way of righteousness.

32One who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And one who rules his spirit, than one who captures a city.

33The lot is cast into the lap, But its every decision is from the LORD.

Proverbs 17

1Better is a dry morsel and quietness with it Than a house full of feasting with strife.

2A servant who acts wisely will rule over a son who acts shamefully, And will share in the inheritance among brothers.

3The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, But the LORD tests hearts.

4An evildoer listens to wicked lips; A liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.

5One who mocks the poor taunts his Maker; One who rejoices at disaster will not go unpunished.

6Grandchildren are the crown of the old, And the glory of sons is their fathers.

7Excellent speech is not fitting for a fool, Much less are lying lips to a prince.

8A bribe is a charm in the sight of its owner; Wherever he turns, he prospers.

9One who conceals an offense seeks love, But one who repeats a matter separates close friends.

10A rebuke goes deeper into one who has understanding Than a hundred blows into a fool.

11A rebellious person seeks only evil, So a cruel messenger will be sent against him.

12Let a person meet a bear robbed of her cubs, Rather than a fool in his foolishness.

13One who returns evil for good, Evil will not depart from his house.

14The beginning of strife is like letting out water, So abandon the quarrel before it breaks out.

15One who justifies the wicked and one who condemns the righteous, Both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.

16Why is there money in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, When he has no sense?

17A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity.

18A person lacking in sense shakes hands And becomes guarantor in the presence of his neighbor.

19One who loves wrongdoing loves strife; One who makes his doorway high seeks destruction.

20One who has a crooked mind finds nothing good, And one who is corrupted in his language falls into evil.

21He who fathers a fool does so to his sorrow, And the father of a fool has no joy.

22A joyful heart is good medicine, But a broken spirit dries up the bones.

23A wicked person accepts a bribe from an inside pocket To pervert the ways of justice.

24Wisdom is in the presence of one who has understanding, But the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.

25A foolish son is a grief to his father, And bitterness to her who gave birth to him.

26It is also not good to fine the righteous, Nor to strike the noble for their uprightness.

27One who withholds his words has knowledge, And one who has a cool spirit is a person of understanding.

28Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise; When he closes his lips, he is considered prudent.

Proverbs 18

1One who separates himself seeks his own desire; He quarrels against all sound wisdom.

2A fool does not delight in understanding, But in revealing his own mind.

3When a wicked person comes, contempt also comes, And with dishonor comes taunting.

4The words of a person’s mouth are deep waters; The fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.

5To show partiality to the wicked is not good, Nor to suppress the righteous in judgment.

6A fool’s lips bring strife, And his mouth invites beatings.

7A fool’s mouth is his ruin, And his lips are the snare of his soul.

8The words of a gossiper are like dainty morsels, And they go down into the innermost parts of the body.

9He also who is lax in his work Is a brother to him who destroys.

10The name of the LORD is a strong tower; The righteous runs into it and is safe.

11A rich person’s wealth is his strong city, And like a high wall in his own imagination.

12Before destruction the heart of a person is haughty, But humility goes before honor.

13One who gives an answer before he hears, It is foolishness and shame to him.

14The spirit of a person can endure his sickness, But as for a broken spirit, who can endure it?

15The mind of the discerning acquires knowledge, And the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.

16A person’s gift makes room for him And brings him before great people.

17The first to plead his case seems right, Until another comes and examines him.

18The cast lot puts an end to quarrels, And decides between the mighty ones.

19A brother who is offended is harder to be won than a strong city, And quarrels are like the bars of a citadel.

20With the fruit of a person’s mouth his stomach will be satisfied; He will be satisfied with the product of his lips.

21Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.

22He who finds a wife finds a good thing And obtains favor from the LORD.

23A poor person utters pleadings, But a rich person answers defiantly.

24A person of too many friends comes to ruin, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.