# Proverbs 16.1

<!-- type: passage | created: 2026-05-06 | updated: 2026-05-06 -->

**Book:** [Proverbs](/codex/proverbs/) · ASV / WEB / KJV / YLT

## Immediate context (±2 verses)

**ASV** ([ASV](/codex/asv/))
> **1. The plans of the heart belong to man; But the answer of the tongue is from Jehovah.**
>
> 2. All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; But Jehovah weigheth the spirits. 3. Commit thy works unto Jehovah, And thy purposes shall be established. (Proverbs 16:1-3, ASV)

**WEB** ([WEB](/codex/web/))
> **1. The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from Yahweh.**
>
> 2. All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but Yahweh weighs the motives. 3. Commit your deeds to Yahweh, and your plans shall succeed. (Proverbs 16:1-3, WEB)

**KJV** ([KJV](/codex/kjv/))
> **1. The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD. <sup>preparations: or, disposings</sup>**
>
> 2. All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits. 3. Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established. <sup>Commit: Heb. Roll</sup> (Proverbs 16:1-3, KJV)

**YLT** ([YLT](/codex/ylt/))
> **1. Of man [are] arrangements of the heart, And from Jehovah an answer of the tongue.**
>
> 2. All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, And Jehovah is pondering the spirits. 3. Roll unto Jehovah thy works, And established are thy purposes, (Proverbs 16:1-3, YLT)

## Setting

- **Speaker:** Solomon (principal); Agur; Lemuel; wise men
- **Audience:** young Israelite men in the wisdom tradition
- **Location:** Israel, Solomonic court
- **Time period:** principal composition c. 970-930 BC (Solomon); compilation c. 700 BC (Hezekiah)

## Theological reading

## Key words

- [H0120 - adam](/codex/h0120-adam/), *adam* (Strong's H120). Also appears in: [Genesis 1.26](/codex/genesis-1-26/), [Genesis 1.27](/codex/genesis-1-27/), [Genesis 2.7](/codex/genesis-2-7/).
- [H3068 - YHWH](/codex/h3068-yhwh/), *YHWH* (Strong's H3068). Also appears in: [Genesis 2.4](/codex/genesis-2-4/), [Genesis 2.7](/codex/genesis-2-7/), [Genesis 2.16-17](/codex/genesis-2-16-17/).
- [H3820 - lev](/codex/h3820-lev/), *lev* (Strong's H3820). Also appears in: [Genesis 6.5](/codex/genesis-6-5/), [Genesis 6](/codex/genesis-6/), [Genesis 18.1-15](/codex/genesis-18-1-15/).

## Why these four translations

ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the **most literal English translations available** (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the **public domain in the United States**, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance.

The four:

- **[ASV](/codex/asv/)** (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition.
- **[WEB](/codex/web/)** (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English.
- **[KJV](/codex/kjv/)** (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base.
- **[YLT](/codex/ylt/)** (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff.

See [Bibles](/codex/bibles/) for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.

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## Quoted in

**Concepts:**

- [Compatibilism](/codex/compatibilism/)

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