Proverbs 16
1 The purposes of the heart are of man, but the answer of the tongue is from Jehovah.
It is for man to prepare the soul, and for the Lord to govern the tongue.
2 All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but Jehovah weigheth the spirits.
All the ways of a man are open to his eyes; the Lord is the one who weighs spirits.
3 Commit thy works unto Jehovah, and thy thoughts shall be established.
Open your works to the Lord, and your intentions will be set in order.
4 Jehovah hath wrought everything on his own account, yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.
The Lord has wrought all things because of himself. Likewise the impious is for the evil day.
5 Every proud heart is an abomination to Jehovah: hand for hand, he shall not be held innocent.
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.
6 By loving-kindness and truth iniquity is atoned for; and by the fear of Jehovah [men] depart from evil.
By mercy and truth, iniquity is redeemed. And by the fear of the Lord, one turns away from evil.
7 When a man's ways please Jehovah, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.
When the ways of man will please the Lord, he will convert even his enemies to peace.
8 Better is a little with righteousness, than great revenues without right.
Better is a little with justice, than many fruits with iniquity.
9 The heart of man deviseth his way, but Jehovah directeth his steps.
The heart of man disposes his way. But it is for Lord to direct his steps.
10 An oracle is on the lips of the king: his mouth will not err in judgment.
Foreknowledge is in the lips of the king. His mouth shall not err in judgment.
11 The just balance and scales are Jehovah's; all the weights of the bag are his work.
Weights and scales are judgments of the Lord. And all the stones in the bag are his work.
12 It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness; for the throne is established by righteousness.
Those who act impiously are abominable to the king. For the throne is made firm by justice.
13 Righteous lips are the delight of kings, and they love him that speaketh aright.
Just lips are the will of kings. He who speaks honestly shall be loved.
14 The fury of a king is [as] messengers of death; but a wise man will pacify it.
The indignation of a king is a herald of death. And the wise man will appease 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 cheerfulness of the king’s countenance, there is life. And his clemency is like belated rain.
16 How much better is it to get wisdom than fine gold, and the getting of intelligence to be preferred to silver!
Possess wisdom, for it is better than gold. And acquire prudence, for it is more precious than silver.
17 The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that taketh heed to his way keepeth his soul.
The path of the just turns away from evils. He who guards his soul preserves his way.
18 Pride [goeth] before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
Arrogance precedes destruction. And the spirit is exalted before a fall.
19 Better is it to be of a humble spirit with the meek, than to divide the spoil with the proud.
It is better to be humbled with the meek, than to divide spoils with the arrogant.
20 He that giveth heed to the word shall find good; and whoso confideth in Jehovah, happy is he.
The learned in word shall find good things. And whoever hopes in the Lord is blessed.
21 The wise in heart is called intelligent, and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.
Whoever is wise in heart shall be called prudent. And whoever is sweet in eloquence shall attain to what is greater.
22 Wisdom is a fountain of life for him that hath it; but the instruction of fools is folly.
Learning is a fountain of life to one who possesses it. The doctrine of the foolish is senseless.
23 The heart of the wise maketh his mouth intelligent, and upon his lips increaseth learning.
The heart of the wise shall instruct his mouth and add grace to his lips.
24 Pleasant words are [as] a honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health for the bones.
Careful words are a honeycomb: sweet to the soul and healthful 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 right to a man, and its end result leads to death.
26 The appetite of the labourer laboureth for him, for his mouth urgeth him on.
The soul of the laborer labors for himself, because his mouth has driven him to it.
27 A man of Belial diggeth up evil, and on his lips there is as a scorching fire.
The impious man digs up evil, and in his lips is a burning fire.
28 A false man soweth contention; and a talebearer separateth very friends.
A perverse man stirs up lawsuits. And one who is verbose divides leaders.
29 A violent man enticeth his neighbour, and leadeth him into a way that is not good.
A man of iniquity entices his friend, and he leads him along a way that is not good.
30 He that shutteth his eyes, [it is] to devise froward things; biting his lips, he bringeth evil to pass.
Whoever, with astonished eyes, thinks up depravities, biting his lips, accomplishes evil.
31 The hoary head is a crown of glory, [if] it is found in the way of righteousness.
Old age is a crown of dignity, when it is found in the ways of justice.
32 He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.
A patient man is better than a strong one. And whoever rules his soul is better than one who assaults cities.
33 The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole decision is of Jehovah.
Lots are cast into the lap, but they are tempered by the Lord.
