Proverbs 16
1 It is for man to prepare the soul, and for the Lord to govern the tongue.
The designs of the heart are man's, but the answer of the tongue comes from the Lord.
2 All the ways of a man are open to his eyes; the Lord is the one who weighs spirits.
All a man's ways are clean to himself; but the Lord puts men's spirits into his scales.
3 Open your works to the Lord, and your intentions will be set in order.
Put your works into the hands of the Lord, and your purposes will be made certain.
4 The Lord has wrought all things because of himself. Likewise the impious is for the evil day.
The Lord has made everything for his purpose, even the sinner for the day of evil.
5 All the arrogant are an abomination to the Lord. Even if hand will be joined to hand, he is not innocent. The beginning of a good way is to do justice. And this is more acceptable with God than to immolate sacrifices.
Everyone who has pride in his heart is disgusting to the Lord: he will certainly not go free from punishment.
6 By mercy and truth, iniquity is redeemed. And by the fear of the Lord, one turns away from evil.
By mercy and good faith evil-doing is taken away: and by the fear of the Lord men are turned away from evil.
7 When the ways of man will please the Lord, he will convert even his enemies to peace.
When a man's ways are pleasing to the Lord, he makes even his haters be at peace with him.
8 Better is a little with justice, than many fruits with iniquity.
Better is a little with righteousness, than great wealth with wrongdoing.
9 The heart of man disposes his way. But it is for Lord to direct his steps.
A man may make designs for his way, but the Lord is the guide of his steps.
10 Foreknowledge is in the lips of the king. His mouth shall not err in judgment.
Decision is in the lips of the king: his mouth will not go wrong in judging.
11 Weights and scales are judgments of the Lord. And all the stones in the bag are his work.
True measures and scales are the Lord's: all the weights of the bag are his work.
12 Those who act impiously are abominable to the king. For the throne is made firm by justice.
Evil-doing is disgusting to kings: for the seat of the ruler is based on righteousness.
13 Just lips are the will of kings. He who speaks honestly shall be loved.
Lips of righteousness are the delight of kings; and he who says what is upright is dear to him.
14 The indignation of a king is a herald of death. And the wise man will appease it.
The wrath of the king is like those who give news of death, but a wise man will put peace in place of it.
15 In the cheerfulness of the king’s countenance, there is life. And his clemency is like belated rain.
In the light of the king's face there is life; and his approval is like a cloud of spring rain.
16 Possess wisdom, for it is better than gold. And acquire prudence, for it is more precious than silver.
How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! and to get knowledge is more to be desired than silver.
17 The path of the just turns away from evils. He who guards his soul preserves his way.
The highway of the upright is to be turned away from evil: he who takes care of his way will keep his soul.
18 Arrogance precedes destruction. And the spirit is exalted before a fall.
Pride goes before destruction, and a stiff spirit before a fall.
19 It is better to be humbled with the meek, than to divide spoils with the arrogant.
Better it is to have a gentle spirit with the poor, than to take part in the rewards of war with men of pride.
20 The learned in word shall find good things. And whoever hopes in the Lord is blessed.
He who gives attention to the law of right will get good; and whoever puts his faith in the Lord is happy.
21 Whoever is wise in heart shall be called prudent. And whoever is sweet in eloquence shall attain to what is greater.
The wise-hearted will be named men of good sense: and by pleasing words learning is increased.
22 Learning is a fountain of life to one who possesses it. The doctrine of the foolish is senseless.
Wisdom is a fountain of life to him who has it; but the punishment of the foolish is their foolish behaviour.
23 The heart of the wise shall instruct his mouth and add grace to his lips.
The heart of the wise man is the teacher of his mouth, and gives increased learning to his lips.
24 Careful words are a honeycomb: sweet to the soul and healthful to the bones.
Pleasing words are like honey, sweet to the soul and new life to the bones.
25 There is a way which seems right to a man, and its end result leads to death.
There is a way which seems straight before a man, but its end is the ways of death.
26 The soul of the laborer labors for himself, because his mouth has driven him to it.
The desire of the working man is working for him, for his need of food is driving him on.
27 The impious man digs up evil, and in his lips is a burning fire.
A good-for-nothing man is a designer of evil, and in his lips there is a burning fire.
28 A perverse man stirs up lawsuits. And one who is verbose divides leaders.
A man of twisted purposes is a cause of fighting everywhere: and he who says evil secretly makes trouble between friends.
29 A man of iniquity entices his friend, and he leads him along a way that is not good.
A violent man puts desire of evil into his neighbour's mind, and makes him go in a way which is not good.
30 Whoever, with astonished eyes, thinks up depravities, biting his lips, accomplishes evil.
He whose eyes are shut is a man of twisted purposes, and he who keeps his lips shut tight makes evil come about.
31 Old age is a crown of dignity, when it is found in the ways of justice.
The grey head is a crown of glory, if it is seen in the way of righteousness.
32 A patient man is better than a strong one. And whoever rules his soul is better than one who assaults cities.
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.
33 Lots are cast into the lap, but they are tempered by the Lord.
A thing may be put to the decision of chance, but it comes about through the Lord.
