Proverbs 16
1 THE preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the Lord.
To man, belong the preparations of the heart, but, from Yahweh, cometh the answer of the tongue.
2 All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the Lord weigheth the spirits.
All the ways of a man, [may be] pure in his own eyes, but, he that testeth spirits, is Yahweh.
3 Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established.
Roll, upon Yahweh, thy doings, that thy plans, may be established.
4 The Lord hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.
Everything, hath Yahweh made for its own purpose, yea, even the lawless one, for the day of calamity.
5 Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.
An abomination to Yahweh, is every one who is haughty in heart, hand to hand, he shall not be held innocent.
6 By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.
By lovingkindness and fidelity, shall iniquity be covered, and, in the revering of Yahweh, is a turning away from wrong.
7 When a man’s ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.
When, acceptable to Yahweh, are the ways of a man, even his enemies, doth he cause to make peace with him.
8 Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right.
Better a little with righteousness, than large revenues, without justice.
9 A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps.
A man’s heart, deviseth his way, but, Yahweh, directeth his steps.
10 A divine sentence is in the lips of the king: his mouth transgresseth not in judgment.
An oracle, is on the lips of a king, in giving sentence, his mouth must not be unfaithful.
11 A just weight and balance are the Lord’s: all the weights of the bag are his work.
The balance and scales of justice, belong to Yahweh, and, his handiwork, are all the weights of the bag.
12 It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is established by righteousness.
The abomination of kings, is to work lawlessness, for, by righteousness, is established a throne.
13 Righteous lips are the delight of kings; and they love him that speaketh right.
The delight of kings, are lips of righteousness, —and, the words of uprightness, he loveth.
14 The wrath of a king is as messengers of death: but a wise man will pacify it.
The wrath of a king, [meaneth] messengers of death, but, a man who is wise, 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 a king’s countenance, is life, and, his good-pleasure, is like the cloud of harvest-rain.
16 How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!
To acquire wisdom, how much better than gold! and, to get hold of understanding, more choice than silver!
17 The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.
The highway of the upright, is to avoid evil, He preserveth his soul, who guardeth his way.
18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
Before grievous injury, pride! and, before a fall, haughtiness of spirit!
19 Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.
Better is lowliness of spirit, with the patient, than a portion of spoil, with the proud.
20 He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the Lord, happy is he.
He that showeth discretion concerning a matter, shall find good, and, he that trusteth in Yahweh, how happy is he!
21 The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.
The wise in heart, shall be called intelligent, and, sweetness of lips, increaseth persuasiveness.
22 Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the instruction of fools is folly.
A well-spring of life, is discretion to its owner, but, the correction of the foolish, is folly.
23 The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips.
The heart of the wise, giveth discretion to his mouth, and, upon his lips, increaseth persuasiveness.
24 Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
A comb of honey, are pleasant words, sweet to the taste and healing to the bone.
25 There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
There is a way that enticeth a man, but, at the latter end thereof, are the ways of death.
26 He that laboureth laboureth for himself; for his mouth craveth it of him.
The appetite of the toiler, hath toiled for him, for his mouth, hath urged him on.
27 An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips there is as a burning fire.
An abandoned man, diggeth up mischief, —and, upon his lips, as it were a fire is scorching.
28 A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.
A perverse man, sendeth forth strife, and, a tattler, separateth intimate friends.
29 A violent man enticeth his neighbour, and leadeth him into the way that is not good.
A ruthless man, enticeth his neighbour, and leadeth him in a way, not good.
30 He shutteth his eyes to devise froward things: moving his lips he bringeth evil to pass.
Closing his eyes, to devise perverse things, biting his lips, he hath plotted mischief.
31 The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness.
A crown of adorning, is a hoary head, in the way of righteousness, it should 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.
Better he that is slow to anger, than a hero, and he that ruleth his spirit, than he that captureth a city.
33 The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord.
Into the lap, is cast the lot, but, from Yahweh, is its every decision.
