Proverbs 16
1 It is for man to prepare the soul, and for the Lord to govern the tongue.
To man, belong the preparations of the heart, but, from Yahweh, cometh the answer of the tongue.
2 All the ways of a man are open to his eyes; the Lord is the one who weighs spirits.
All the ways of a man, [may be] pure in his own eyes, but, he that testeth spirits, is Yahweh.
3 Open your works to the Lord, and your intentions will be set in order.
Roll, upon Yahweh, thy doings, that thy plans, may be established.
4 The Lord has wrought all things because of himself. Likewise the impious is for the evil day.
Everything, hath Yahweh made for its own purpose, yea, even the lawless one, for the day of calamity.
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 to Yahweh, is every one who is haughty in heart, hand to hand, he shall not be held innocent.
6 By mercy and truth, iniquity is redeemed. And by the fear of the Lord, one turns 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 the ways of man will please the Lord, he will convert even his enemies to peace.
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 justice, than many fruits with iniquity.
Better a little with righteousness, than large revenues, without justice.
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, Yahweh, directeth his steps.
10 Foreknowledge is in the lips of the king. His mouth shall not err in judgment.
An oracle, is on the lips of a king, in giving sentence, his mouth must not be unfaithful.
11 Weights and scales are judgments of the Lord. And all the stones in 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 Those who act impiously are abominable to the king. For the throne is made firm by justice.
The abomination of kings, is to work lawlessness, for, by righteousness, is established a throne.
13 Just lips are the will of kings. He who speaks honestly shall be loved.
The delight of kings, are lips of righteousness, —and, the words of uprightness, he loveth.
14 The indignation of a king is a herald of death. And the wise man will appease it.
The wrath of a king, [meaneth] messengers of death, but, a man who is wise, 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 a king’s countenance, is life, and, his good-pleasure, is like the cloud of harvest-rain.
16 Possess wisdom, for it is better than gold. And acquire prudence, for it is more precious than silver.
To acquire wisdom, how much better than gold! and, to get hold of understanding, more choice 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 avoid evil, He preserveth his soul, who guardeth his way.
18 Arrogance precedes destruction. And the spirit is exalted before a fall.
Before grievous injury, pride! and, before a fall, haughtiness of spirit!
19 It is better to be humbled with the meek, than to divide spoils with the arrogant.
Better is lowliness of spirit, with the patient, than a portion of spoil, with the proud.
20 The learned in word shall find good things. And whoever hopes in the Lord is blessed.
He that showeth discretion concerning a matter, shall find good, and, he that trusteth in Yahweh, how happy is he!
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, shall be called intelligent, and, sweetness of lips, increaseth persuasiveness.
22 Learning is a fountain of life to one who possesses it. The doctrine of the foolish is senseless.
A well-spring of life, is discretion to its owner, but, the correction of the foolish, is folly.
23 The heart of the wise shall instruct his mouth and add grace to his lips.
The heart of the wise, giveth discretion to his mouth, and, upon his lips, increaseth persuasiveness.
24 Careful words are a honeycomb: sweet to the soul and healthful 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 right to a man, and its end result leads to death.
There is a way that enticeth a man, but, at the latter end thereof, are the ways of death.
26 The soul of the laborer labors for himself, because his mouth has driven him to it.
The appetite of the toiler, hath toiled for him, for his mouth, hath urged him on.
27 The impious man digs up evil, and in his lips is a burning fire.
An abandoned man, diggeth up mischief, —and, upon his lips, as it were a fire is scorching.
28 A perverse man stirs up lawsuits. And one who is verbose divides leaders.
A perverse man, sendeth forth strife, and, a tattler, separateth intimate friends.
29 A man of iniquity entices his friend, and he leads him along a way that is not good.
A ruthless man, enticeth his neighbour, and leadeth him in a way, not good.
30 Whoever, with astonished eyes, thinks up depravities, biting his lips, accomplishes evil.
Closing his eyes, to devise perverse things, biting his lips, he hath plotted mischief.
31 Old age is a crown of dignity, when it is found in the ways of justice.
A crown of adorning, is a hoary head, in the way of righteousness, it should be found.
32 A patient man is better than a strong one. And whoever rules his soul is better than one who assaults cities.
Better he that is slow to anger, than a hero, and he that ruleth his spirit, than he that captureth a city.
33 Lots are cast into the lap, but they are tempered by the Lord.
Into the lap, is cast the lot, but, from Yahweh, is its every decision.
