Proverbs 16
1 Human beings may make plans in their minds, but the final decision is the Lord's.
The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from Jehovah.
2 People think that whatever they do is fine, but the Lord looks at their intentions.
All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes, but Jehovah weighs the spirits.
3 Trust whatever you do to the Lord, and your plans will be successful.
Commit thy works to Jehovah, and thy purposes shall be established.
4 The Lord has a purpose in everything he does, even the wicked for the day of trouble.
Jehovah has made everything for its own end, yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.
5 The Lord hates the arrogant. You can be certain of this: the wicked won't go unpunished.
Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to Jehovah. Hand in hand, he shall not be unpunished.
6 Sin is forgiven through trustworthy love and faithfulness; by honoring the Lord people are saved from evil.
By mercy and truth iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of Jehovah men depart from evil.
7 When the way that people live pleases the Lord, he makes even their enemies be at peace with them.
When a man's ways please Jehovah, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
8 Better to have just a little and be honest than to have a lot and be dishonest.
Better is a little, with righteousness, than great revenues with injustice.
9 You can plan in your mind what to do, but the Lord will guide you.
A man's heart devises his way, but Jehovah directs his steps.
10 The king is inspired in what he says; he is not unreliable in his decisions.
A divine sentence is in the lips of the king. His mouth shall not transgress in judgment.
11 Accurate scales and balances are important to the Lord. He has determined all the weights in the bag.
A just balance and scales are Jehovah's. All the weights of the bag are his work.
12 It's a terrible thing for a king to do evil, for his throne is based on doing right.
It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness, for the throne is established by righteousness.
13 People who tell the truth please kings; they love those who say what is right.
Righteous lips are the delight of kings, and they love him who speaks right.
14 An angry king can put you to death. If you're wise you'll try and calm him down.
The wrath of a king is messengers of death, but a wise man will pacify it.
15 If the king is smiling, you'll live; his blessing is like the clouds that bring spring rain.
In the light of the king's countenance is life, and his favor is as a cloud of the latter rain.
16 Far better to get wisdom than gold; far better to choose knowledge than silver.
How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! Yea, to get understanding is rather to be chosen than silver.
17 The highway of the good leads away from evil. If you watch where you're going you'll save your life.
The highway of the upright is to depart from evil. He who keeps his way preserves his soul.
18 Pride leads to destruction; and an arrogant spirit leads to a fall.
Pride is before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
19 Better to have a humble spirit and live with the poor than to share plunder with the proud.
Better it is to be of a lowly spirit with the poor, than to divide the spoil with the proud.
20 If you pay attention to wise instruction you will do well; you'll be happy if you trust in the Lord.
He who gives heed to the word shall find good, and whoever trusts in Jehovah, happy is he.
21 If you think wisely you'll be called perceptive; if you speak pleasantly you'll be persuasive.
The wise in heart shall be called prudent, and the sweetness of the lips increases learning.
22 If you have good sense it will be a fountain of life to you, but stupid people are punished by their stupidity.
Understanding is a well-spring of life to him who has it, but the correction of fools is folly.
23 A wise mind makes sure to say sensible things; the words spoken are persuasive.
The heart of the wise instructs his mouth, and adds learning to his lips.
24 Kind words are like a honeycomb—they taste sweet and are healthy for the body.
Pleasant words are a honeycomb: Sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
25 There's a way that seems to be right, but in the end it's the way of death.
There is a way which seems right to a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
26 A good appetite helps workers—hunger encourages them.
The appetite of the laboring man labors for him, for his mouth urges him.
27 Worthless people plot evil and their words burn like fire.
A worthless man devises mischief, and in his lips there is as a scorching fire.
28 Quarrelsome people cause conflict, and a gossip comes between the closest friends.
A perverse man scatters abroad strife, and a whisperer separates chief friends.
29 Violent people lure their friends, and lead them in a direction that's not good for them.
A man of violence entices his neighbor, and leads him in a way that is not good.
30 People who give you a sly wink are plotting bad things; they purse their lips and make evil happen.
He who shuts his eyes devises perverse things. He who moves his lips brings evil to pass.
31 Gray hair is a glorious crown; it's achieved by living right.
The hoary head is a crown of glory. It shall be found in the way of righteousness.
32 Better to be slow to anger than to be powerful, better to have self-control than to conquer a town.
He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit, than he who takes a city.
33 The lot is thrown into the lap, but the Lord makes every decision.
The lot is cast into the lap, but the whole disposing thereof is of Jehovah.
