< Proverbs 16 >
1 The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD.
Arrangements of the heart [are] of man, An answer of the tongue from YHWH.
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 pure in his own eyes, And YHWH is pondering the spirits.
3 Commit your works unto the LORD, and your thoughts shall be established.
Roll your works to YHWH, And your purposes are established,
4 The LORD has made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.
YHWH has worked all things for Himself, And also the wicked—for a day of evil.
5 Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.
Every proud one of heart [is] an abomination to YHWH, Hand to hand—he is not acquitted.
6 By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.
Iniquity is pardoned in kindness and truth, And in the fear of YHWH Turn aside from evil.
7 When a man's ways please the LORD, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
When a man’s ways please YHWH, even his enemies, He causes to be at peace with him.
8 Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right.
Better [is] a little with righteousness, Than abundance of increase without justice.
9 A man's heart devises his way: but the LORD directs his steps.
The heart of man devises his way, And YHWH establishes his step.
10 A divine sentence is in the lips of the king: his mouth trangresses not in judgment.
An oath [is] on the lips of a king, In judgment his mouth does not trespass.
11 A just weight and balance are the LORD's: all the weights of the bag are his work.
A just beam and balances [are] YHWH’s, All the stones of the bag [are] His work.
12 It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is established by righteousness.
Doing wickedness [is] an abomination to kings, For a throne is established by righteousness.
13 Righteous lips are the delight of kings; and they love him that speaks right.
Righteous lips [are] the delight of kings, And he loves whoever is speaking uprightly,
14 The wrath of a king is as messengers of death: but a wise man will pacify it.
The fury of a king [is] messengers of death, And a wise man pacifies 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 face [is] life, And his goodwill [is] as a cloud of the spring rain.
16 How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen 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 upright is to depart from evil: he that keeps his way perserves his soul.
A highway of the upright [is] to turn from evil, Whoever is preserving his soul is watching his way.
18 Pride goes before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
Pride [is] before destruction, And before stumbling—a haughty spirit.
19 Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.
Better is humility of spirit with the poor, Than to apportion spoil with the proud.
20 He that handles a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusts in the LORD, happy is he.
The wise in any matter finds good, And whoever is trusting in YHWH, O his blessedness.
21 The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increases learning.
For the wise in heart is called intelligent, And sweetness of lips increases learning.
22 Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that has it: but the instruction of fools is folly.
Understanding [is] a fountain of life to its possessors, The instruction of fools is folly.
23 The heart of the wise teaches his mouth, and adds learning to his lips.
The heart of the wise causes his mouth to act wisely, And he increases learning by his lips,
24 Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
Sayings of pleasantness [are] a honeycomb, Sweet to the soul, and healing to the bone.
25 There is a way that seems right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
There is a way right before a man, And its latter end—ways of death.
26 He that labours labours for himself; for his mouth craves it of him.
A laboring man has labored for himself, For his mouth has caused [him] to bend over it.
27 An ungodly man digs up evil: and in his lips there is as a burning fire.
A worthless man is preparing evil, And on his lips [is] as a burning fire.
28 A perverse man sows strife: and a whisperer separates chief friends.
A contrary man sends forth contention, A tale-bearer is separating a familiar friend.
29 A violent man entices his neighbour, and leads him into the way that is not good.
A violent man entices his neighbor, And causes him to go in a way [that is] not good.
30 He shuts his eyes to devise perverse things: moving his lips he brings evil to pass.
Consulting his eyes to devise contrary things, Moving his lips he has accomplished evil.
31 The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness.
Grey hairs [are] a crown of beauty, It is found in the way of righteousness.
32 He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that rules his spirit than he that takes a city.
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 cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD.
The lot is cast into the center, And all its judgment [is] from YHWH!