Proverbs 16
1 The designs of the heart are man's, but the answer of the tongue comes from the Lord.
To man, belong the preparations of the heart, but, from Yahweh, cometh the answer of the tongue.
2 All a man's ways are clean to himself; but the Lord puts men's spirits into his scales.
All the ways of a man, [may be] pure in his own eyes, but, he that testeth spirits, is Yahweh.
3 Put your works into the hands of the Lord, and your purposes will be made certain.
Roll, upon Yahweh, thy doings, that thy plans, may be established.
4 The Lord has made everything for his purpose, even the sinner for the day of evil.
Everything, hath Yahweh made for its own purpose, yea, even the lawless one, for the day of calamity.
5 Everyone who has pride in his heart is disgusting to the Lord: he will certainly not go free from punishment.
An abomination to Yahweh, is every one who is haughty in heart, hand to hand, he shall not be held innocent.
6 By mercy and good faith evil-doing is taken away: and by the fear of the Lord men are turned away from evil.
By lovingkindness and fidelity, shall iniquity be covered, and, in the revering of Yahweh, is a turning away from wrong.
7 When a man's ways are pleasing to the Lord, he makes even his haters be at peace with him.
When, acceptable to Yahweh, are the ways of a man, even his enemies, doth he cause to make peace with him.
8 Better is a little with righteousness, than great wealth with wrongdoing.
Better a little with righteousness, than large revenues, without justice.
9 A man may make designs for his way, but the Lord is the guide of his steps.
A man’s heart, deviseth his way, but, Yahweh, directeth his steps.
10 Decision is in the lips of the king: his mouth will not go wrong in judging.
An oracle, is on the lips of a king, in giving sentence, his mouth must not be unfaithful.
11 True measures and scales are the Lord's: all the weights of the bag are his work.
The balance and scales of justice, belong to Yahweh, and, his handiwork, are all the weights of the bag.
12 Evil-doing is disgusting to kings: for the seat of the ruler is based on righteousness.
The abomination of kings, is to work lawlessness, for, by righteousness, is established a throne.
13 Lips of righteousness are the delight of kings; and he who says what is upright is dear to him.
The delight of kings, are lips of righteousness, —and, the words of uprightness, he loveth.
14 The wrath of the king is like those who give news of death, but a wise man will put peace in place of it.
The wrath of a king, [meaneth] messengers of death, but, a man who is wise, will appease it.
15 In the light of the king's face there is life; and his approval is like a cloud of spring rain.
In the light of a king’s countenance, is life, and, his good-pleasure, is like the cloud of harvest-rain.
16 How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! and to get knowledge is more to be desired than silver.
To acquire wisdom, how much better than gold! and, to get hold of understanding, more choice than silver!
17 The highway of the upright is to be turned away from evil: he who takes care of his way will keep his soul.
The highway of the upright, is to avoid evil, He preserveth his soul, who guardeth his way.
18 Pride goes before destruction, and a stiff spirit before a fall.
Before grievous injury, pride! and, before a fall, haughtiness of spirit!
19 Better it is to have a gentle spirit with the poor, than to take part in the rewards of war with men of pride.
Better is lowliness of spirit, with the patient, than a portion of spoil, with the proud.
20 He who gives attention to the law of right will get good; and whoever puts his faith in the Lord is happy.
He that showeth discretion concerning a matter, shall find good, and, he that trusteth in Yahweh, how happy is he!
21 The wise-hearted will be named men of good sense: and by pleasing words learning is increased.
The wise in heart, shall be called intelligent, and, sweetness of lips, increaseth persuasiveness.
22 Wisdom is a fountain of life to him who has it; but the punishment of the foolish is their foolish behaviour.
A well-spring of life, is discretion to its owner, but, the correction of the foolish, is folly.
23 The heart of the wise man is the teacher of his mouth, and gives increased learning to his lips.
The heart of the wise, giveth discretion to his mouth, and, upon his lips, increaseth persuasiveness.
24 Pleasing words are like honey, sweet to the soul and new life to the bones.
A comb of honey, are pleasant words, sweet to the taste and healing to the bone.
25 There is a way which seems straight before a man, but its end is the ways of death.
There is a way that enticeth a man, but, at the latter end thereof, are the ways of death.
26 The desire of the working man is working for him, for his need of food is driving him on.
The appetite of the toiler, hath toiled for him, for his mouth, hath urged him on.
27 A good-for-nothing man is a designer of evil, and in his lips there is a burning fire.
An abandoned man, diggeth up mischief, —and, upon his lips, as it were a fire is scorching.
28 A man of twisted purposes is a cause of fighting everywhere: and he who says evil secretly makes trouble between friends.
A perverse man, sendeth forth strife, and, a tattler, separateth intimate friends.
29 A violent man puts desire of evil into his neighbour's mind, and makes him go in a way which is not good.
A ruthless man, enticeth his neighbour, and leadeth him in a way, not good.
30 He whose eyes are shut is a man of twisted purposes, and he who keeps his lips shut tight makes evil come about.
Closing his eyes, to devise perverse things, biting his lips, he hath plotted mischief.
31 The grey head is a crown of glory, if it is seen in the way of righteousness.
A crown of adorning, is a hoary head, in the way of righteousness, it should be found.
32 He who is slow to be angry is better than a man of war, and he who has control over his spirit than he who takes a town.
Better he that is slow to anger, than a hero, and he that ruleth his spirit, than he that captureth a city.
33 A thing may be put to the decision of chance, but it comes about through the Lord.
Into the lap, is cast the lot, but, from Yahweh, is its every decision.
