Proverbs 16
1 The plans of the heart belong to man, but the reply of the tongue is from the LORD.
People plan what they want to do, but Yahweh is the one who decides [MTY] what really will happen.
2 All a man’s ways are pure in his own eyes, but his motives are weighed out by the LORD.
People may think that their actions are right, but Yahweh really knows why people do what they do.
3 Commit your works to the LORD and your plans will be achieved.
(Request/Rely on) Yahweh to direct what you plan to do; [if you do that], you will succeed in what you plan.
4 The LORD has made everything for His purpose— even the wicked for the day of disaster.
Yahweh knows why he does everything that he does; he has even prepared the wicked for the time that he will punish them.
5 Everyone who is proud in heart is detestable to the LORD; be assured that he will not go unpunished.
Yahweh hates/detests everyone who is proud [IDM]; you can be certain [IDM] that they will be punished [LIT].
6 By loving devotion and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the LORD one turns aside from evil.
Be loyal to Yahweh and faithfully [obey] him; if you do that, he will forgive you for having sinned. If we revere him, nothing evil will happen to us (OR, he will prevent evil things from happening to us).
7 When a man’s ways please the LORD, He makes even the man’s enemies live at peace with him.
When our behavior pleases Yahweh, he even causes our enemies to act peacefully toward us.
8 Better a little with righteousness than great gain with injustice.
It is better to have a small amount of money that is earned honestly than to have a lot of money that is acquired dishonestly.
9 A man’s heart plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.
People plan what they want to do, but Yahweh directs/determines what they will [really] be able to do.
10 A divine verdict is on the lips of a king; his mouth must not betray justice.
[If] God directs what a king says, what he decides is [always] right/fair.
11 Honest scales and balances are from the LORD; all the weights in the bag are His concern.
Yahweh wants us to use scales that are correct; the weights in his bag are correct, [because] he made them.
12 Wicked behavior is detestable to kings, for a throne is established through righteousness.
Kings detest those who do evil, because [it is people doing what] is fair/right that causes their governments to be [MTY] strong.
13 Righteous lips are a king’s delight, and he who speaks honestly is beloved.
Kings are delighted to hear people say [MTY] what is true; they love those who say what is right/honest.
14 The wrath of a king is a messenger of death, but a wise man will pacify it.
If a king becomes angry, he [may] command that someone be executed, [so] wise people will [try to] cause him to be calm.
15 When a king’s face brightens, there is life; his favor is like a rain cloud in spring.
If a king has a smile [MTY] on his face, he will enable people to have a [long] life (OR, he will not order people to be executed); his being pleased [with people] is [as delightful] as rain in the springtime [when seeds are planted].
16 How much better to acquire wisdom than gold! To gain understanding is more desirable than silver.
Becoming wise is better than aquiring gold; getting good understanding/insight is better than acquiring silver.
17 The highway of the upright leads away from evil; he who guards his way protects his life.
Those whose behavior [MET] is good/right turn away from doing evil; those who guard their conduct [MTY] protect their lives.
18 Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
Being proud will (lead to your having/cause you to have) disasters; despising others will result in your being ruined.
19 It is better to be lowly in spirit among the humble than to divide the spoil with the proud.
It is better to be humble and poor than [to associate with] proud [people] and [to become rich by] dividing with them (plunder/goods captured in a battle).
20 Whoever heeds instruction will find success, and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD.
Those who heed good teaching/instruction will prosper; happy are those who trust in Yahweh.
21 The wise in heart are called discerning, and pleasant speech promotes instruction.
People say that those who are wise learn what is right/good behavior, and those who talk pleasantly [are able to] influence others [to do what is right].
22 Understanding is a fountain of life to its possessor, but the discipline of fools is folly.
Being wise is [like having] a fountain that gives life [MET], but foolish people are punished as a result of their acting foolishly.
23 The heart of the wise man instructs his mouth and adds persuasiveness to his lips.
Those who are wise think carefully before they talk, and as a result they are able to influence/persuade others [to do what is right].
24 Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.
Kind words are like honey [SIM]: We enjoy them both, and both cause our bodies to be healthy/strong.
25 There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.
There are some kinds of behavior [MET] that people think are right, but (walking on those roads [MET]/continually doing those things) causes those people to die.
26 A worker’s appetite works for him because his hunger drives him onward.
If a worker (has an appetite/is hungry), that urges him to work hard because he [SYN] wants to [earn money to buy things to] eat.
27 A worthless man digs up evil, and his speech is like a scorching fire.
Worthless people plan [ways to cause] trouble [for others], and [even] what they say [injures people] like a hot fire does [SIM].
28 A perverse man spreads dissension, and a gossip divides close friends.
Deceitful people cause strife/quarreling among other people; those who say false things about other people cause people who are friends to become enemies.
29 A violent man entices his neighbor and leads him down a path that is not good.
Those who act violently entice/encourage others [to also act violently] and lead them along a road that will end in disaster.
30 He who winks his eye devises perversity; he who purses his lips is bent on evil.
People [sometimes] show with [one of] their eyes [to signal to their friends that they are] planning to do something to harm [others]; they smirk when they are about to do something evil.
31 Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is attained along the path of righteousness.
Gray hair is [like] a glorious crown [MET] that is given to people who have always behaved righteously.
32 He who is slow to anger is better than a warrior, and he who controls his temper is greater than one who captures a city.
Those who do not become angry quickly are better than those who are powerful; it is better to (control your temper/keep yourself from becoming very angry) than to conquer a city.
33 The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.
People (cast lots/throw marked stones) [to decide what should be done], but God is the one who truly decides what will happen.
