Proverbs 16
1 It is for man to prepare the soul, and for the Lord to govern the tongue.
Unto man belong the resolves of the heart; but from the Lord cometh the expression of the tongue.
2 All the ways of a man are open to his eyes; the Lord is the one who weighs spirits.
Every one of the ways of a man is pure in his own eyes; but the Lord measureth the spirits.
3 Open your works to the Lord, and your intentions will be set in order.
Commit unto the Lord thy works, and thy plans will be firmly established.
4 The Lord has wrought all things because of himself. Likewise the impious is for the evil day.
Every thing hath the Lord wrought for its destined end; yes, even the wicked for the day of unhappiness.
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.
An abomination of the Lord is every one that is proud of heart: the hand [of God] being against [his] hand, he shall not go unpunished.
6 By mercy and truth, iniquity is redeemed. And by the fear of the Lord, one turns away from evil.
Through kindness and truth is iniquity atoned for; and by the fear of the Lord [men] depart from evil.
7 When the ways of man will please the Lord, he will convert even his enemies to peace.
When the Lord receiveth in favor a man's ways, he maketh even his enemies to 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 incomes through injustice.
9 The heart of man disposes his way. But it is for Lord to direct his steps.
A man's heart deviseth his way; but the Lord directeth firmly his steps.
10 Foreknowledge is in the lips of the king. His mouth shall not err in judgment.
There should be a wise sentence on the lips of the king: his mouth should never commit a trespass in judging.
11 Weights and scales are judgments of the Lord. And all the stones in the bag are his work.
A just balance and scales belong to the Lord: his work are all the weights in the bag.
12 Those who act impiously are abominable to the king. For the throne is made firm by justice.
It should be an abomination to kings to commit wickedness; for through righteousness [alone] can a throne be established.
13 Just lips are the will of kings. He who speaks honestly shall be loved.
Righteous lips [should obtain] the favor of kings; and him that speaketh uprightly should they love.
14 The indignation of a king is a herald of death. And the wise man will appease it.
The fury of a king is like the messengers of death; but a wise man will appease 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 countenance there is life; and his favor is as a cloud of the latter rain.
16 Possess wisdom, for it is better than gold. And acquire prudence, for it is more precious than silver.
How much better is it to obtain wisdom than gold! and to obtain understanding is preferable to 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 depart from evil: he preserveth his soul that watcheth his way.
18 Arrogance precedes destruction. And the spirit is exalted before a fall.
Before downfall [goeth] pride, and before stumbling, haughtiness of spirit.
19 It is better to be humbled with the meek, than to divide spoils with the arrogant.
Better is it to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide spoil with the proud.
20 The learned in word shall find good things. And whoever hopes in the Lord is blessed.
He that reflecteth on a matter wisely will find happiness; and whoso trusteth in the Lord—happiness attend him!
21 Whoever is wise in heart shall be called prudent. And whoever is sweet in eloquence shall attain to what is greater.
The wise in heart is called a man of understanding; and the sweetness of the lips increaseth information.
22 Learning is a fountain of life to one who possesses it. The doctrine of the foolish is senseless.
Intelligence is a source of life unto its possessor; but the correction of fools is folly.
23 The heart of the wise shall instruct his mouth and add grace to his lips.
The heart of the wise maketh his mouth intelligent, and upon his lips he increaseth information.
24 Careful words are a honeycomb: sweet to the soul and healthful to the bones.
[Like] the droppings of honey are pleasant sayings, sweet to the soul, and healing to the bones.
25 There is a way which seems right to a man, and its end result leads to death.
There is many a way which seemeth even before a man, but its end are the ways unto death.
26 The soul of the laborer labors for himself, because his mouth has driven him to it.
The desire of the laborer laboreth for him; for his mouth imposeth it on him.
27 The impious man digs up evil, and in his lips is a burning fire.
An ungodly man diggeth up mischief, and on his lips there is as it were a scathing fire.
28 A perverse man stirs up lawsuits. And one who is verbose divides leaders.
A perverse man scattereth strife; and a whisperer separateth confident friends.
29 A man of iniquity entices his friend, and he leads him along a way that is not good.
The man of violence misleadeth his neighbor, and maketh him go on a way which is not good.
30 Whoever, with astonished eyes, thinks up depravities, biting his lips, accomplishes evil.
He shutteth his eyes to devise perverse things: when he compresseth his lips then hath he fully resolved on evil.
31 Old age is a crown of dignity, when it is found in the ways of justice.
An ornamental crown is the hoary head, on the way of righteousness can it be found.
32 A patient man is better than a strong one. And whoever rules his soul is better than one who assaults cities.
One that is slow to anger is better than a hero; and he that ruleth his spirit, than the conqueror of a city.
33 Lots are cast into the lap, but they are tempered by the Lord.
In the lap the lot is cast: but from the Lord cometh the whole of its decision.
