Proverbs 16
1 The purposes of the heart are of man, but the answer of the tongue is from Jehovah.
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 clean in his own eyes; but Jehovah weigheth the spirits.
All a man's ways are clean to himself; but the Lord puts men's spirits into his scales.
3 Commit thy works unto Jehovah, and thy thoughts shall be established.
Put your works into the hands of the Lord, and your purposes will be made certain.
4 Jehovah hath wrought everything on his own account, yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.
The Lord has made everything for his purpose, even the sinner for the day of evil.
5 Every proud heart is an abomination to Jehovah: hand for hand, he shall not be held innocent.
Everyone who has pride in his heart is disgusting to the Lord: he will certainly not go free from punishment.
6 By loving-kindness and truth iniquity is atoned for; and by the fear of Jehovah [men] depart 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 a man's ways please Jehovah, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.
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 righteousness, than great revenues without right.
Better is a little with righteousness, than great wealth with wrongdoing.
9 The heart of man deviseth his way, but Jehovah directeth his steps.
A man may make designs for his way, but the Lord is the guide of his steps.
10 An oracle is on the lips of the king: his mouth will not err in judgment.
Decision is in the lips of the king: his mouth will not go wrong in judging.
11 The just balance and scales are Jehovah's; all the weights of the bag are his work.
True measures and scales are the Lord's: all the weights of the bag are his work.
12 It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness; for the throne is established by righteousness.
Evil-doing is disgusting to kings: for the seat of the ruler is based on righteousness.
13 Righteous lips are the delight of kings, and they love him that speaketh aright.
Lips of righteousness are the delight of kings; and he who says what is upright is dear to him.
14 The fury of a king is [as] messengers of death; but a wise man will pacify 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 light of the king's countenance is life, and his favour is as a cloud of the latter rain.
In the light of the king's face there is life; and his approval is like a cloud of spring rain.
16 How much better is it to get wisdom than fine gold, and the getting of intelligence to be preferred to silver!
How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! and to get knowledge is more to be desired than silver.
17 The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that taketh heed to his way keepeth his soul.
The highway of the upright is to be turned away from evil: he who takes care of his way will keep his soul.
18 Pride [goeth] before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
Pride goes before destruction, and a stiff spirit before a fall.
19 Better is it to be of a humble spirit with the meek, than to divide the spoil with the proud.
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 He that giveth heed to the word shall find good; and whoso confideth in Jehovah, happy is he.
He who gives attention to the law of right will get good; and whoever puts his faith in the Lord is happy.
21 The wise in heart is called intelligent, and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.
The wise-hearted will be named men of good sense: and by pleasing words learning is increased.
22 Wisdom is a fountain of life for him that hath it; but the instruction of fools is folly.
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 maketh his mouth intelligent, and upon his lips increaseth learning.
The heart of the wise man is the teacher of his mouth, and gives increased learning to his lips.
24 Pleasant words are [as] a honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health for the bones.
Pleasing words are like honey, sweet to the soul and new life to the bones.
25 There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof is the ways of death.
There is a way which seems straight before a man, but its end is the ways of death.
26 The appetite of the labourer laboureth for him, for his mouth urgeth him on.
The desire of the working man is working for him, for his need of food is driving him on.
27 A man of Belial diggeth up evil, and on his lips there is as a scorching fire.
A good-for-nothing man is a designer of evil, and in his lips there is a burning fire.
28 A false man soweth contention; and a talebearer separateth very friends.
A man of twisted purposes is a cause of fighting everywhere: and he who says evil secretly makes trouble between friends.
29 A violent man enticeth his neighbour, and leadeth him into 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 He that shutteth his eyes, [it is] to devise froward things; biting his lips, he bringeth evil to pass.
He whose eyes are shut is a man of twisted purposes, and he who keeps his lips shut tight makes evil come about.
31 The hoary head is a crown of glory, [if] it is found in the way of righteousness.
The grey head is a crown of glory, if it is seen in the way of righteousness.
32 He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.
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 The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole decision is of Jehovah.
A thing may be put to the decision of chance, but it comes about through the Lord.
