Proverbs 16
1 The purposes of the heart are of man, but the answer of the tongue is from Jehovah.
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 clean in his own eyes; but Jehovah weigheth the spirits.
People may think that their actions are right, but Yahweh really knows why people do what they do.
3 Commit thy works unto Jehovah, and thy thoughts shall be established.
(Request/Rely on) Yahweh to direct what you plan to do; [if you do that], you will succeed in what you plan.
4 Jehovah hath wrought everything on his own account, yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.
Yahweh knows why he does everything that he does; he has even prepared the wicked for the time that he will punish them.
5 Every proud heart is an abomination to Jehovah: hand for hand, he shall not be held innocent.
Yahweh hates/detests everyone who is proud [IDM]; you can be certain [IDM] that they will be punished [LIT].
6 By loving-kindness and truth iniquity is atoned for; and by the fear of Jehovah [men] depart 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 a man's ways please Jehovah, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.
When our behavior pleases Yahweh, he even causes our enemies to act peacefully toward us.
8 Better is a little with righteousness, than great revenues without right.
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 deviseth his way, but Jehovah directeth his steps.
People plan what they want to do, but Yahweh directs/determines what they will [really] be able to do.
10 An oracle is on the lips of the king: his mouth will not err in judgment.
[If] God directs what a king says, what he decides is [always] right/fair.
11 The just balance and scales are Jehovah's; all the weights of 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 It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness; for the throne is established by righteousness.
Kings detest those who do evil, because [it is people doing what] is fair/right that causes their governments to be [MTY] strong.
13 Righteous lips are the delight of kings, and they love him that speaketh aright.
Kings are delighted to hear people say [MTY] what is true; they love those who say what is right/honest.
14 The fury of a king is [as] messengers of death; but a wise man will pacify 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 light of the king's countenance is life, and his favour is as a cloud of the latter 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 How much better is it to get wisdom than fine gold, and the getting of intelligence to be preferred to silver!
Becoming wise is better than aquiring gold; getting good understanding/insight is better than acquiring silver.
17 The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that taketh heed to his way keepeth his soul.
Those whose behavior [MET] is good/right turn away from doing evil; those who guard their conduct [MTY] protect their lives.
18 Pride [goeth] before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
Being proud will (lead to your having/cause you to have) disasters; despising others will result in your being ruined.
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 humble and poor than [to associate with] proud [people] and [to become rich by] dividing with them (plunder/goods captured in a battle).
20 He that giveth heed to the word shall find good; and whoso confideth in Jehovah, happy is he.
Those who heed good teaching/instruction will prosper; happy are those who trust in Yahweh.
21 The wise in heart is called intelligent, and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.
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 Wisdom is a fountain of life for him that hath it; but the instruction of fools is folly.
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 maketh his mouth intelligent, and upon his lips increaseth learning.
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 Pleasant words are [as] a honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health for 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 that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof is the ways of 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 appetite of the labourer laboureth for him, for his mouth urgeth him on.
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 A man of Belial diggeth up evil, and on his lips there is as a scorching 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 false man soweth contention; and a talebearer separateth very friends.
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 violent man enticeth his neighbour, and leadeth him into 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 He that shutteth his eyes, [it is] to devise froward things; biting his lips, he bringeth evil to pass.
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 The hoary head is a crown of glory, [if] it is found in the way of righteousness.
Gray hair is [like] a glorious crown [MET] that is given to people who have always behaved righteously.
32 He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.
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 The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole decision is of Jehovah.
People (cast lots/throw marked stones) [to decide what should be done], but God is the one who truly decides what will happen.
