Proverbs 16
1 It is for man to prepare the soul, and for the Lord to govern the tongue.
People plan what they want to do, but Yahweh is the one who decides [MTY] what really will happen.
2 All the ways of a man are open to his eyes; the Lord is the one who weighs spirits.
People may think that their actions are right, but Yahweh really knows why people do what they do.
3 Open your works to the Lord, and your intentions will be set in order.
(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 wrought all things because of himself. Likewise the impious is for the evil day.
Yahweh knows why he does everything that he does; he has even prepared the wicked for the time that he will punish them.
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.
Yahweh hates/detests everyone who is proud [IDM]; you can be certain [IDM] that they will be punished [LIT].
6 By mercy and truth, iniquity is redeemed. And by the fear of the Lord, one turns away 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 the ways of man will please the Lord, he will convert even his enemies to peace.
When our behavior pleases Yahweh, he even causes our enemies to act peacefully toward us.
8 Better is a little with justice, than many fruits with iniquity.
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 The heart of man disposes his way. But it is for Lord to direct his steps.
People plan what they want to do, but Yahweh directs/determines what they will [really] be able to do.
10 Foreknowledge is in the lips of the king. His mouth shall not err in judgment.
[If] God directs what a king says, what he decides is [always] right/fair.
11 Weights and scales are judgments of the Lord. And all the stones in the bag are his work.
Yahweh wants us to use scales that are correct; the weights in his bag are correct, [because] he made them.
12 Those who act impiously are abominable to the king. For the throne is made firm by justice.
Kings detest those who do evil, because [it is people doing what] is fair/right that causes their governments to be [MTY] strong.
13 Just lips are the will of kings. He who speaks honestly shall be loved.
Kings are delighted to hear people say [MTY] what is true; they love those who say what is right/honest.
14 The indignation of a king is a herald of death. And the wise man will appease 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 In the cheerfulness of the king’s countenance, there is life. And his clemency is like belated rain.
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 Possess wisdom, for it is better than gold. And acquire prudence, for it is more precious than silver.
Becoming wise is better than aquiring gold; getting good understanding/insight is better than acquiring silver.
17 The path of the just turns away from evils. He who guards his soul preserves his way.
Those whose behavior [MET] is good/right turn away from doing evil; those who guard their conduct [MTY] protect their lives.
18 Arrogance precedes destruction. And the spirit is exalted 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 humbled with the meek, than to divide spoils with the arrogant.
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 The learned in word shall find good things. And whoever hopes in the Lord is blessed.
Those who heed good teaching/instruction will prosper; happy are those who trust in Yahweh.
21 Whoever is wise in heart shall be called prudent. And whoever is sweet in eloquence shall attain to what is greater.
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 Learning is a fountain of life to one who possesses it. The doctrine of the foolish is senseless.
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 shall instruct his mouth and add grace 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 Careful words are a honeycomb: sweet to the soul and healthful 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 which seems right to a man, and its end result leads to 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 The soul of the laborer labors for himself, because his mouth has driven him to it.
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 The impious man digs up evil, and in his lips is a burning 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 stirs up lawsuits. And one who is verbose divides leaders.
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 man of iniquity entices his friend, and he leads him along a way 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 Whoever, with astonished eyes, thinks up depravities, biting his lips, accomplishes 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 Old age is a crown of dignity, when it is found in the ways of justice.
Gray hair is [like] a glorious crown [MET] that is given to people who have always behaved righteously.
32 A patient man is better than a strong one. And whoever rules his soul is better than one who assaults cities.
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 Lots are cast into the lap, but they are tempered by 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.
