Immerse: Poets Full Volume - Flipbook - Page 235
16:10-26
P ro v er b s
The king speaks with divine wisdom;
he must never judge unfairly.
The Lord demands accurate scales and balances;
he sets the standards for fairness.
A king detests wrongdoing,
for his rule is built on justice.
The king is pleased with words from righteous lips;
he loves those who speak honestly.
The anger of the king is a deadly threat;
the wise will try to appease it.
When the king smiles, there is life;
his favor refreshes like a spring rain.
How much better to get wisdom than gold,
and good judgment than silver!
The path of the virtuous leads away from evil;
whoever follows that path is safe.
Pride goes before destruction,
and haughtiness before a fall.
Better to live humbly with the poor
than to share plunder with the proud.
Those who listen to instruction will prosper;
those who trust the Lord will be joyful.
The wise are known for their understanding,
and pleasant words are persuasive.
Discretion is a life-giving fountain to those who possess it,
but discipline is wasted on fools.
From a wise mind comes wise speech;
the words of the wise are persuasive.
Kind words are like honey—
sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.
There is a path before each person that seems right,
but it ends in death.
It is good for workers to have an appetite;
an empty stomach drives them on.
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