Proverbs 16
1 The purposes of the heart are of man, but the answer of the tongue is from Jehovah.
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 clean in his own eyes; but Jehovah weigheth the spirits.
Every one of the ways of a man is pure in his own eyes; but the Lord measureth the spirits.
3 Commit thy works unto Jehovah, and thy thoughts shall be established.
Commit unto the Lord thy works, and thy plans will be firmly established.
4 Jehovah hath wrought everything on his own account, yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.
Every thing hath the Lord wrought for its destined end; yes, even the wicked for the day of unhappiness.
5 Every proud heart is an abomination to Jehovah: hand for hand, he shall not be held innocent.
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 loving-kindness and truth iniquity is atoned for; and by the fear of Jehovah [men] depart from evil.
Through kindness and truth is iniquity atoned for; and by the fear of the Lord [men] depart from evil.
7 When a man's ways please Jehovah, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.
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 righteousness, than great revenues without right.
Better is a little with righteousness, than great incomes through injustice.
9 The heart of man deviseth his way, but Jehovah directeth his steps.
A man's heart deviseth his way; but the Lord directeth firmly his steps.
10 An oracle is on the lips of the king: his mouth will 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 The just balance and scales are Jehovah's; all the weights of the bag are his work.
A just balance and scales belong to the Lord: his work are all the weights in the bag.
12 It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness; for the throne is established by righteousness.
It should be an abomination to kings to commit wickedness; for through righteousness [alone] can a throne be established.
13 Righteous lips are the delight of kings, and they love him that speaketh aright.
Righteous lips [should obtain] the favor of kings; and him that speaketh uprightly should they love.
14 The fury of a king is [as] messengers of death; but a wise man will pacify it.
The fury of a king is like the messengers of death; but a 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 light of the king's countenance there is life; and his favor is as a cloud of the latter 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 is it to obtain wisdom than gold! and to obtain understanding is preferable to 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 depart from evil: he preserveth his soul that watcheth his way.
18 Pride [goeth] before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
Before downfall [goeth] pride, and before stumbling, haughtiness of spirit.
19 Better is it to be of a humble spirit with the meek, than to divide the spoil with the proud.
Better is it to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide spoil with the proud.
20 He that giveth heed to the word shall find good; and whoso confideth in Jehovah, happy is he.
He that reflecteth on a matter wisely will find happiness; and whoso trusteth in the Lord—happiness attend him!
21 The wise in heart is called intelligent, and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.
The wise in heart is called a man of understanding; and the sweetness of the lips increaseth information.
22 Wisdom is a fountain of life for him that hath it; but the instruction of fools is folly.
Intelligence is a source of life unto its possessor; but the correction of fools is folly.
23 The heart of the wise maketh his mouth intelligent, and upon his lips increaseth learning.
The heart of the wise maketh his mouth intelligent, and upon his lips he increaseth information.
24 Pleasant words are [as] a honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health for the bones.
[Like] the droppings of honey are pleasant sayings, sweet to the soul, and healing 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 many a way which seemeth even before a man, but its end are the ways unto death.
26 The appetite of the labourer laboureth for him, for his mouth urgeth him on.
The desire of the laborer laboreth for him; for his mouth imposeth it on him.
27 A man of Belial diggeth up evil, and on his lips there is as a scorching fire.
An ungodly man diggeth up mischief, and on his lips there is as it were a scathing fire.
28 A false man soweth contention; and a talebearer separateth very friends.
A perverse man scattereth strife; and a whisperer separateth confident friends.
29 A violent man enticeth his neighbour, and leadeth him into 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 He that shutteth his eyes, [it is] to devise froward things; biting his lips, he bringeth evil to pass.
He shutteth his eyes to devise perverse things: when he compresseth his lips then hath he fully resolved on evil.
31 The hoary head is a crown of glory, [if] it is found in the way of righteousness.
An ornamental crown is the hoary head, on the way of righteousness can it be found.
32 He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.
One that is slow to anger is better than a hero; and he that ruleth his spirit, than the conqueror of a city.
33 The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole decision is of Jehovah.
In the lap the lot is cast: but from the Lord cometh the whole of its decision.
