Proverbs 16:6
New International Version
Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for; through the fear of the LORD evil is avoided.

New Living Translation
Unfailing love and faithfulness make atonement for sin. By fearing the LORD, people avoid evil.

English Standard Version
By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the LORD one turns away from evil.

Berean Standard Bible
By loving devotion and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the LORD one turns aside from evil.

King James Bible
By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.

New King James Version
In mercy and truth Atonement is provided for iniquity; And by the fear of the LORD one departs from evil.

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

NASB 1995
By lovingkindness and truth iniquity is atoned for, And by the fear of the LORD one keeps away from evil.

NASB 1977
By lovingkindness and truth iniquity is atoned for, And by the fear of the LORD one keeps away from evil.

Legacy Standard Bible
By lovingkindness and truth iniquity is atoned for, And by the fear of Yahweh one turns away from evil.

Amplified Bible
By mercy and lovingkindness and truth [not superficial ritual] wickedness is cleansed from the heart, And by the fear of the LORD one avoids evil.

Christian Standard Bible
Iniquity is atoned for by loyalty and faithfulness, and one turns from evil by the fear of the LORD.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Wickedness is atoned for by loyalty and faithfulness, and one turns from evil by the fear of the LORD.

American Standard Version
By mercy and truth iniquity is atoned for; And by the fear of Jehovah men depart from evil.

Contemporary English Version
If we truly love God, our sins will be forgiven; if we show him respect, we will keep away from sin.

English Revised Version
By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
By mercy and faithfulness, peace is made with the LORD. By the fear of the LORD, evil is avoided.

Good News Translation
Be loyal and faithful, and God will forgive your sin. Obey the LORD and nothing evil will happen to you.

International Standard Version
Iniquity is atoned for by gracious love and truth, and through fear of the LORD people turn from evil.

Majority Standard Bible
By loving devotion and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the LORD one turns aside from evil.

NET Bible
Through loyal love and truth iniquity is appeased; through fearing the LORD one avoids evil.

New Heart English Bible
By mercy and truth iniquity is atoned for. By the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.

Webster's Bible Translation
By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.

World English Bible
By mercy and truth iniquity is atoned for. By the fear of Yahweh men depart from evil.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Iniquity is pardoned in kindness and truth, "" And in the fear of YHWH "" Turn aside from evil.

Young's Literal Translation
In kindness and truth pardoned is iniquity, And in the fear of Jehovah Turn thou aside from evil.

Smith's Literal Translation
By mercy and truth iniquity shall be expiated: and in the fear of Jehovah a departing from evil.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
By mercy and truth iniquity is redeemed: and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.

Catholic Public Domain Version
By mercy and truth, iniquity is redeemed. And by the fear of the Lord, one turns away from evil.

New American Bible
By steadfast loyalty guilt is expiated, and by the fear of the LORD evil is avoided.

New Revised Standard Version
By loyalty and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the LORD one avoids evil.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
By mercy and truth iniquity is purged; and reverence of the LORD causes men to depart from evil.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
The evil one is forgiven by grace and by truth and the awe of LORD JEHOVAH turns aside from evil.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
By mercy and truth iniquity is expiated; And by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Reply of the Tongue is from the LORD
5Everyone who is proud in heart is detestable to the LORD; be assured that he will not go unpunished. 6By loving devotion and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the LORD one turns aside from evil. 7When a man’s ways please the LORD, He makes even the man’s enemies live at peace with him.…

Cross References
Psalm 103:8-12
The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion. / He will not always accuse us, nor harbor His anger forever. / He has not dealt with us according to our sins or repaid us according to our iniquities. ...

Micah 7:18-19
Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity and passes over the transgression of the remnant of His inheritance—who does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in loving devotion? / He will again have compassion on us; He will vanquish our iniquities. You will cast out all our sins into the depths of the sea.

Exodus 34:6-7
Then the LORD passed in front of Moses and called out: “The LORD, the LORD God, is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion and faithfulness, / maintaining loving devotion to a thousand generations, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin. Yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished; He will visit the iniquity of the fathers on their children and grandchildren to the third and fourth generations.”

Isaiah 1:16-18
Wash and cleanse yourselves. Remove your evil deeds from My sight. Stop doing evil! / Learn to do right; seek justice and correct the oppressor. Defend the fatherless and plead the case of the widow.” / “Come now, let us reason together,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are as red as crimson, they will become like wool.

Hosea 6:6
For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.

Psalm 51:1-2
For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. When Nathan the prophet came to him after his adultery with Bathsheba. Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your loving devotion; according to Your great compassion, blot out my transgressions. / Wash me clean of my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.

Psalm 130:3-4
If You, O LORD, kept track of iniquities, then who, O Lord, could stand? / But with You there is forgiveness, so that You may be feared.

Daniel 9:9
To the Lord our God belong compassion and forgiveness, even though we have rebelled against Him

Jeremiah 31:34
No longer will each man teach his neighbor or his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ because they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquities and will remember their sins no more.”

1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Ephesians 1:7
In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace

Romans 3:24-26
and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. / God presented Him as an atoning sacrifice in His blood through faith, in order to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance He had passed over the sins committed beforehand. / He did this to demonstrate His righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and to justify the one who has faith in Jesus.

Hebrews 9:14
how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, purify our consciences from works of death, so that we may serve the living God!

1 Peter 1:18-19
For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life you inherited from your forefathers, / but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or spot.

Matthew 26:28
This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.


Treasury of Scripture

By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.

Proverbs 20:28
Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy.

Psalm 85:10
Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.

Daniel 4:27
Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.

by the

Proverbs 8:13
The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.

Proverbs 14:16,17
A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident…

Genesis 20:11
And Abraham said, Because I thought, Surely the fear of God is not in this place; and they will slay me for my wife's sake.

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Atoned Avoids Depart Evil Evil-Doing Expiated Faith Faithfulness Fear Good Iniquity Keeps Kindness Lovingkindness Mercy Pardoned Purged Sin Truth Turn Turned
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Atoned Avoids Depart Evil Evil-Doing Expiated Faith Faithfulness Fear Good Iniquity Keeps Kindness Lovingkindness Mercy Pardoned Purged Sin Truth Turn Turned
Proverbs 16
1. The Plans of the heart














By loving devotion and faithfulness
This phrase emphasizes the dual virtues of "loving devotion" and "faithfulness" as foundational to a righteous life. The Hebrew word for "loving devotion" is "chesed," which conveys a sense of steadfast love, mercy, and kindness. It is a covenantal term often used to describe God's unwavering love for His people. "Faithfulness" is translated from the Hebrew word "emet," which means truth, reliability, and stability. Together, these virtues reflect a life committed to God and others, embodying the character of God Himself. Historically, these qualities were essential in maintaining the covenant relationship between God and Israel, and they remain vital for Christians today in their relationship with God and fellow believers.

iniquity is atoned for
The concept of atonement in this context refers to the covering or removal of sin. The Hebrew word "kaphar" is used here, which means to cover, purge, or make reconciliation. In the Old Testament, atonement was achieved through sacrificial offerings, pointing forward to the ultimate atonement made by Jesus Christ on the cross. This phrase underscores the transformative power of love and faithfulness in dealing with sin, highlighting that true repentance and a heart aligned with God's will can lead to forgiveness and reconciliation.

and by the fear of the LORD
The "fear of the LORD" is a recurring theme in Proverbs, representing a deep reverence and awe for God. The Hebrew word "yirah" conveys a sense of respect, honor, and submission to God's authority. This fear is not about being afraid but about recognizing God's holiness and sovereignty. It is the beginning of wisdom and understanding, guiding believers to live in a way that pleases God. Historically, this reverence was central to the Israelites' identity as God's chosen people, and it remains crucial for Christians as they seek to live according to God's will.

evil is avoided
The avoidance of evil is a natural outcome of living in the fear of the LORD. The Hebrew word "suwr" means to turn aside, depart, or remove. This phrase suggests an active choice to shun wickedness and pursue righteousness. In the biblical context, avoiding evil is not merely about abstaining from wrongdoing but involves a proactive pursuit of holiness and godliness. This aligns with the teachings of the New Testament, where believers are called to resist the devil and flee from sin, empowered by the Holy Spirit to live lives that reflect the character of Christ.

(6) Mercy and truth.--See above on Proverbs 3:3. Mercy and truth cannot, of course, in themselves "purge iniquity," only so far as they are signs of the "faith which worketh by love" (Galatians 5:6), which accepts the salvation offered by God (Romans 1:16-17). (Comp. the statement with regard to charity, 1Peter 4:8.)

By the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.--Or, rather, escape misfortune. (Comp. Psalms 37 throughout.)

Verse 6. - By mercy and truth iniquity is purged; atoned for. The combination "mercy and truth" occurs in Proverbs 3:3 (where see note), and intimates love to God and man, and faithfulness in keeping promises and truth and justice in all dealings. It is by the exercise of those graces, not by mere external rites, that God is propitiated (see on Proverbs 10:2). A kind of expiatory value is assigned to these virtues, which, indeed, must not be pressed too closely, but should be examined by the light of such passages in the New Testament as Luke 11:41; Acts 10:4. Of course, such graces show themselves only in one who is really devout and God fearing; they are the fruits of a heart at peace with God and man, and react on the character and conduct. The LXX., which places this distich after ver. 27 of ch. 15, translates, "By alms and faithfulness (πίστεσιν) sins are cleansed," confining the term "mercy" to one special form, as in one reading of Matthew 6. l, "Take heed that ye do not your righteousness [al. alms] before men." By the fear of the Lord men depart from evil. The practice of true religion, of course, involves abstinence from sin; and this seems so unnecessary a truth to be formally stated that some take the "evil" named to be physical, not moral evil; calamity, not transgression. But the two clauses are coordinate, and present two aspects of the same truth. The first intimates how sin is to be expiated, the second how it is to be avoided. The morally good man meets with pardon and acceptance, and he who fears God is delivered from evil. So we pray, in the Lord's Prayer, "Forgive us our trespasses, and deliver us from evil." Septuagint, "By the fear of the Lord every one declineth from evil" (comp. Proverbs 14:27).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
By loving devotion
בְּחֶ֣סֶד (bə·ḥe·seḏ)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2617: Kindness, piety, reproof, beauty

and truth,
וֶ֭אֱמֶת (we·’ĕ·meṯ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 571: Stability, certainty, truth, trustworthiness

wickedness
עָוֺ֑ן (‘ā·wōn)
Noun - common singular
Strong's 5771: Iniquity, guilt, punishment for iniquity

is atoned for,
יְכֻפַּ֣ר (yə·ḵup·par)
Verb - Pual - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3722: To cover, to expiate, condone, to placate, cancel

and by the fear
וּבְיִרְאַ֥ת (ū·ḇə·yir·’aṯ)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 3374: Fear, reverence

of the LORD
יְ֝הוָ֗ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

[a man] turns aside
ס֣וּר (sūr)
Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 5493: To turn aside

from evil.
מֵרָֽע׃ (mê·rā‘)
Preposition-m | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 7451: Bad, evil


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OT Poetry: Proverbs 16:6 By mercy and truth iniquity is atoned (Prov. Pro Pr)
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