Proverbs 16
1 Human beings may make plans in their minds, but the final decision is the Lord's.
Arrangements of the heart [are] of man, An answer of the tongue from YHWH.
2 People think that whatever they do is fine, but the Lord looks at their intentions.
All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, And YHWH is pondering the spirits.
3 Trust whatever you do to the Lord, and your plans will be successful.
Roll your works to YHWH, And your purposes are established,
4 The Lord has a purpose in everything he does, even the wicked for the day of trouble.
YHWH has worked all things for Himself, And also the wicked—for a day of evil.
5 The Lord hates the arrogant. You can be certain of this: the wicked won't go unpunished.
Every proud one of heart [is] an abomination to YHWH, Hand to hand—he is not acquitted.
6 Sin is forgiven through trustworthy love and faithfulness; by honoring the Lord people are saved from evil.
Iniquity is pardoned in kindness and truth, And in the fear of YHWH Turn aside 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 YHWH, even his enemies, He causes 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 abundance of increase without justice.
9 You can plan in your mind what to do, but the Lord will guide you.
The heart of man devises his way, And YHWH establishes his step.
10 The king is inspired in what he says; he is not unreliable in his decisions.
An oath [is] on the lips of a king, In judgment his mouth does not trespass.
11 Accurate scales and balances are important to the Lord. He has determined all the weights in the bag.
A just beam and balances [are] YHWH’s, All the stones 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.
Doing wickedness [is] an abomination to kings, For a 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 he loves whoever is speaking uprightly,
14 An angry king can put you to death. If you're wise you'll try and calm him down.
The fury of a king [is] messengers of death, And a wise man pacifies it.
15 If the king is smiling, you'll live; his blessing is like the clouds that bring spring rain.
In the light of a king’s face [is] life, And his goodwill [is] as a cloud of the spring rain.
16 Far better to get wisdom than gold; far better to choose knowledge than silver.
To get wisdom—how much better than gold, And to get understanding—to be chosen [more] than silver!
17 The highway of the good leads away from evil. If you watch where you're going you'll save your life.
A highway of the upright [is] to turn from evil, Whoever is preserving his soul is watching his way.
18 Pride leads to destruction; and an arrogant spirit leads to a fall.
Pride [is] before destruction, And before stumbling—a haughty spirit.
19 Better to have a humble spirit and live with the poor than to share plunder with the proud.
Better is humility of spirit with the poor, Than to apportion 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.
The wise in any matter finds good, And whoever is trusting in YHWH, O his blessedness.
21 If you think wisely you'll be called perceptive; if you speak pleasantly you'll be persuasive.
For the wise in heart is called intelligent, And sweetness of 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 fountain of life to its possessors, The instruction of fools is folly.
23 A wise mind makes sure to say sensible things; the words spoken are persuasive.
The heart of the wise causes his mouth to act wisely, And he increases learning by his lips,
24 Kind words are like a honeycomb—they taste sweet and are healthy for the body.
Sayings of pleasantness [are] a honeycomb, Sweet to the soul, and healing to the bone.
25 There's a way that seems to be right, but in the end it's the way of death.
There is a way right before a man, And its latter end—ways of death.
26 A good appetite helps workers—hunger encourages them.
A laboring man has labored for himself, For his mouth has caused [him] to bend over it.
27 Worthless people plot evil and their words burn like fire.
A worthless man is preparing evil, And on his lips [is] as a burning fire.
28 Quarrelsome people cause conflict, and a gossip comes between the closest friends.
A contrary man sends forth contention, A tale-bearer is separating a familiar friend.
29 Violent people lure their friends, and lead them in a direction that's not good for them.
A violent man entices his neighbor, And causes him to go 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.
Consulting his eyes to devise contrary things, Moving his lips he has accomplished evil.
31 Gray hair is a glorious crown; it's achieved by living right.
Grey hairs [are] a crown of beauty, It is 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.
Better [is] the [one] slow to anger than the mighty, And the ruler over his spirit than he who is taking a city.
33 The lot is thrown into the lap, but the Lord makes every decision.
The lot is cast into the center, And all its judgment [is] from YHWH!
