Proverbs 16
1 The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, [is] from the LORD.
People plan what they want to do, but Yahweh is the one who decides [MTY] what really will happen.
2 All the ways of a man [are] clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits.
People may think that their actions are right, but Yahweh really knows why people do what they do.
3 Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.
(Request/Rely on) Yahweh to direct what you plan to do; [if you do that], you will succeed in what you plan.
4 The LORD hath made all [things] for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.
Yahweh knows why he does everything that he does; he has even prepared the wicked for the time that he will punish them.
5 Every one [that is] proud in heart [is] an abomination to the LORD: [though] hand [join] in hand, he shall not be unpunished.
Yahweh hates/detests everyone who is proud [IDM]; you can be certain [IDM] that they will be punished [LIT].
6 By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD [men] depart from evil.
Be loyal to Yahweh and faithfully [obey] him; if you do that, he will forgive you for having sinned. If we revere him, nothing evil will happen to us (OR, he will prevent evil things from happening to us).
7 When a man’s ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.
When our behavior pleases Yahweh, he even causes our enemies to act peacefully toward us.
8 Better [is] a little with righteousness than great revenues without right.
It is better to have a small amount of money that is earned honestly than to have a lot of money that is acquired dishonestly.
9 A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.
People plan what they want to do, but Yahweh directs/determines what they will [really] be able to do.
10 A divine sentence [is] in the lips of the king: his mouth transgresseth not in judgment.
[If] God directs what a king says, what he decides is [always] right/fair.
11 A just weight and balance [are] the LORD’s: all the weights of the bag [are] his work.
Yahweh wants us to use scales that are correct; the weights in his bag are correct, [because] he made them.
12 [It is] an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is established by righteousness.
Kings detest those who do evil, because [it is people doing what] is fair/right that causes their governments to be [MTY] strong.
13 Righteous lips [are] the delight of kings; and they love him that speaketh right.
Kings are delighted to hear people say [MTY] what is true; they love those who say what is right/honest.
14 The wrath of a king [is as] messengers of death: but a wise man will pacify it.
If a king becomes angry, he [may] command that someone be executed, [so] wise people will [try to] cause him to be calm.
15 In the light of the king’s countenance [is] life; and his favour [is] as a cloud of the latter rain.
If a king has a smile [MTY] on his face, he will enable people to have a [long] life (OR, he will not order people to be executed); his being pleased [with people] is [as delightful] as rain in the springtime [when seeds are planted].
16 How much better [is it] to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!
Becoming wise is better than aquiring gold; getting good understanding/insight is better than acquiring silver.
17 The highway of the upright [is] to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.
Those whose behavior [MET] is good/right turn away from doing evil; those who guard their conduct [MTY] protect their lives.
18 Pride [goeth] before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
Being proud will (lead to your having/cause you to have) disasters; despising others will result in your being ruined.
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 humble and poor than [to associate with] proud [people] and [to become rich by] dividing with them (plunder/goods captured in a battle).
20 He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy [is] he.
Those who heed good teaching/instruction will prosper; happy are those who trust in Yahweh.
21 The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.
People say that those who are wise learn what is right/good behavior, and those who talk pleasantly [are able to] influence others [to do what is right].
22 Understanding [is] a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the instruction of fools [is] folly.
Being wise is [like having] a fountain that gives life [MET], but foolish people are punished as a result of their acting foolishly.
23 The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips.
Those who are wise think carefully before they talk, and as a result they are able to influence/persuade others [to do what is right].
24 Pleasant words [are as] an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
Kind words are like honey [SIM]: We enjoy them both, and both cause our bodies to be healthy/strong.
25 There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof [are] the ways of death.
There are some kinds of behavior [MET] that people think are right, but (walking on those roads [MET]/continually doing those things) causes those people to die.
26 He that laboureth laboureth for himself; for his mouth craveth it of him.
If a worker (has an appetite/is hungry), that urges him to work hard because he [SYN] wants to [earn money to buy things to] eat.
27 An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips [there is] as a burning fire.
Worthless people plan [ways to cause] trouble [for others], and [even] what they say [injures people] like a hot fire does [SIM].
28 A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.
Deceitful people cause strife/quarreling among other people; those who say false things about other people cause people who are friends to become enemies.
29 A violent man enticeth his neighbour, and leadeth him into the way [that is] not good.
Those who act violently entice/encourage others [to also act violently] and lead them along a road that will end in disaster.
30 He shutteth his eyes to devise froward things: moving his lips he bringeth evil to pass.
People [sometimes] show with [one of] their eyes [to signal to their friends that they are] planning to do something to harm [others]; they smirk when they are about to do something evil.
31 The hoary head [is] a crown of glory, [if] it be found in the way of righteousness.
Gray hair is [like] a glorious crown [MET] that is given to people who have always behaved righteously.
32 [He that is] slow to anger [is] better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.
Those who do not become angry quickly are better than those who are powerful; it is better to (control your temper/keep yourself from becoming very angry) than to conquer a city.
33 The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof [is] of the LORD.
People (cast lots/throw marked stones) [to decide what should be done], but God is the one who truly decides what will happen.
