Proverbs 16
1 It is the part of man to prepare the soul: and of 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 weigher of spirits.
People may think that their actions are right, but Yahweh really knows why people do what they do.
3 Lay open thy works to the Lord: and thy thoughts shall be directed.
(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 hath made all things for himself: the wicked also 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 Every proud man is an abomination to the Lord: though hand should 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 offer 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 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 the ways of man shall 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 great revenues 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 disposeth his way: but the Lord must direct his steps.
People plan what they want to do, but Yahweh directs/determines what they will [really] be able to do.
10 Divination 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 Weight and balance are judgments of the Lord: and his work all the weights of the bag.
Yahweh wants us to use scales that are correct; the weights in his bag are correct, [because] he made them.
12 They that act wickedly are abominable to the king: for the throne is established 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 delight of kings: he that speaketh right things 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 wrath of a king is as messengers of death: and the 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 cheerfulness of the king’s countenance is life: and his clemency is like 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 Get wisdom, because it is better than gold: and purchase 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 departeth from evils: he that keepeth his soul keepeth his way.
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 the spirit is lifted up 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 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 The learned in word shall find good things: and he that trusteth in the Lord is blessed.
Those who heed good teaching/instruction will prosper; happy are those who trust in Yahweh.
21 The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and he that is sweet in words shall attain to greater things.
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 Knowledge is a fountain of life to him that possesseth it: the instruction of fools is foolishness.
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 shall 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 Well ordered words are as a honeycomb: sweet to the soul, and health 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 that seemeth to a man right: and the ends thereof lead 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 him that laboureth, laboureth for himself, because his mouth hath obliged 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 wicked man diggeth 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 stirreth up quarrels: and one full of words separateth princes.
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 An unjust man allureth his friend: 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 with fixed eyes deviseth wicked things, biting his lips, 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 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 The patient man is better than the valiant: and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh 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 disposed of 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.
