Proverbs 16
1 The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD.
It is for man to prepare the soul, and for the Lord to govern the tongue.
2 All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weights the spirits.
All the ways of a man are open to his eyes; the Lord is the one who weighs spirits.
3 Commit your works unto the LORD, and your thoughts shall be established.
Open your works to the Lord, and your intentions will be set in order.
4 The LORD has made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.
The Lord has wrought all things because of himself. Likewise the impious is for the evil day.
5 Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.
All the arrogant are an abomination to the Lord. Even if hand will 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 immolate sacrifices.
6 By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.
By mercy and truth, iniquity is redeemed. And by the fear of the Lord, one turns away from evil.
7 When a man's ways please the LORD, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
When the ways of man will please the Lord, he will convert even his enemies to peace.
8 Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right.
Better is a little with justice, than many fruits with iniquity.
9 A man's heart devises his way: but the LORD directs his steps.
The heart of man disposes his way. But it is for Lord to direct his steps.
10 A divine sentence is in the lips of the king: his mouth trangresses not in judgment.
Foreknowledge is in the lips of the king. His mouth shall not err in judgment.
11 A just weight and balance are the LORD's: all the weights of the bag are his work.
Weights and scales are judgments of the Lord. And all the stones in the bag are his work.
12 It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is established by righteousness.
Those who act impiously are abominable to the king. For the throne is made firm by justice.
13 Righteous lips are the delight of kings; and they love him that speaks right.
Just lips are the will of kings. He who speaks honestly shall be loved.
14 The wrath of a king is as messengers of death: but a wise man will pacify it.
The indignation of a king is a herald of death. And the wise man 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 cheerfulness of the king’s countenance, there is life. And his clemency is like belated rain.
16 How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!
Possess wisdom, for it is better than gold. And acquire prudence, for it is more precious than silver.
17 The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keeps his way perserves his soul.
The path of the just turns away from evils. He who guards his soul preserves his way.
18 Pride goes before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
Arrogance precedes destruction. And the spirit is exalted before a fall.
19 Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.
It is better to be humbled with the meek, than to divide spoils with the arrogant.
20 He that handles a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusts in the LORD, happy is he.
The learned in word shall find good things. And whoever hopes in the Lord is blessed.
21 The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increases learning.
Whoever is wise in heart shall be called prudent. And whoever is sweet in eloquence shall attain to what is greater.
22 Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that has it: but the instruction of fools is folly.
Learning is a fountain of life to one who possesses it. The doctrine of the foolish is senseless.
23 The heart of the wise teaches his mouth, and adds learning to his lips.
The heart of the wise shall instruct his mouth and add grace to his lips.
24 Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
Careful words are a honeycomb: sweet to the soul and healthful to the bones.
25 There is a way that seems right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
There is a way which seems right to a man, and its end result leads to death.
26 He that labours labours for himself; for his mouth craves it of him.
The soul of the laborer labors for himself, because his mouth has driven him to it.
27 An ungodly man digs up evil: and in his lips there is as a burning fire.
The impious man digs up evil, and in his lips is a burning fire.
28 A perverse man sows strife: and a whisperer separates chief friends.
A perverse man stirs up lawsuits. And one who is verbose divides leaders.
29 A violent man entices his neighbour, and leads him into the way that is not good.
A man of iniquity entices his friend, and he leads him along a way that is not good.
30 He shuts his eyes to devise perverse things: moving his lips he brings evil to pass.
Whoever, with astonished eyes, thinks up depravities, biting his lips, accomplishes evil.
31 The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness.
Old age is a crown of dignity, when it is found in the ways of justice.
32 He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that rules his spirit than he that takes a city.
A patient man is better than a strong one. And whoever rules his soul is better than one who assaults cities.
33 The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD.
Lots are cast into the lap, but they are tempered by the Lord.
