Proverbs 16
1 Arrangements of the heart [are] of man, An answer of the tongue from YHWH.
It is the part of man to prepare the soul: and of the Lord to govern the tongue.
2 All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, And YHWH is pondering the spirits.
All the ways of a man are open to his eyes: the Lord is the weigher of spirits.
3 Roll your works to YHWH, And your purposes are established,
Lay open thy works to the Lord: and thy thoughts shall be directed.
4 YHWH has worked all things for Himself, And also the wicked—for a day of evil.
The Lord hath made all things for himself: the wicked also for the evil day.
5 Every proud one of heart [is] an abomination to YHWH, Hand to hand—he is not acquitted.
Every proud man is an abomination to the Lord: though hand should 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 offer sacrifices.
6 Iniquity is pardoned in kindness and truth, And in the fear of YHWH Turn aside from evil.
By mercy and truth iniquity is redeemed: and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.
7 When a man’s ways please YHWH, even his enemies, He causes to be at peace with him.
When the ways of man shall please the Lord, he will convert even his enemies to peace.
8 Better [is] a little with righteousness, Than abundance of increase without justice.
Better is a little with justice, than great revenues with iniquity.
9 The heart of man devises his way, And YHWH establishes his step.
The heart of man disposeth his way: but the Lord must direct his steps.
10 An oath [is] on the lips of a king, In judgment his mouth does not trespass.
Divination is in the lips of the king, his mouth shall not err in judgment.
11 A just beam and balances [are] YHWH’s, All the stones of the bag [are] His work.
Weight and balance are judgments of the Lord: and his work all the weights of the bag.
12 Doing wickedness [is] an abomination to kings, For a throne is established by righteousness.
They that act wickedly are abominable to the king: for the throne is established by justice.
13 Righteous lips [are] the delight of kings, And he loves whoever is speaking uprightly,
Just lips are the delight of kings: he that speaketh right things shall be loved.
14 The fury of a king [is] messengers of death, And a wise man pacifies it.
The wrath of a king is as messengers of death: and the wise man will pacify it.
15 In the light of a king’s face [is] life, And his goodwill [is] as a cloud of the spring rain.
In the cheerfulness of the king’s countenance is life: and his clemency is like the latter rain.
16 To get wisdom—how much better than gold, And to get understanding—to be chosen [more] than silver!
Get wisdom, because it is better than gold: and purchase prudence, for it is more precious than silver.
17 A highway of the upright [is] to turn from evil, Whoever is preserving his soul is watching his way.
The path of the just departeth from evils: he that keepeth his soul keepeth his way.
18 Pride [is] before destruction, And before stumbling—a haughty spirit.
Pride goeth before destruction: and the spirit is lifted up before a fall.
19 Better is humility of spirit with the poor, Than to apportion spoil with the proud.
It is better to be humbled with the meek, than to divide spoils with the proud.
20 The wise in any matter finds good, And whoever is trusting in YHWH, O his blessedness.
The learned in word shall find good things: and he that trusteth in the Lord is blessed.
21 For the wise in heart is called intelligent, And sweetness of lips increases learning.
The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and he that is sweet in words shall attain to greater things.
22 Understanding [is] a fountain of life to its possessors, The instruction of fools is folly.
Knowledge is a fountain of life to him that possesseth it: the instruction of fools is foolishness.
23 The heart of the wise causes his mouth to act wisely, And he increases learning by his lips,
The heart of the wise shall instruct his mouth: and shall add grace to his lips.
24 Sayings of pleasantness [are] a honeycomb, Sweet to the soul, and healing to the bone.
Well ordered words are as a honeycomb: sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
25 There is a way right before a man, And its latter end—ways of death.
There is a way that seemeth to a man right: and the ends thereof lead to death.
26 A laboring man has labored for himself, For his mouth has caused [him] to bend over it.
The soul of him that laboureth, laboureth for himself, because his mouth hath obliged him to it.
27 A worthless man is preparing evil, And on his lips [is] as a burning fire.
The wicked man diggeth evil, and in his lips is a burning fire.
28 A contrary man sends forth contention, A tale-bearer is separating a familiar friend.
A perverse man stirreth up quarrels: and one full of words separateth princes.
29 A violent man entices his neighbor, And causes him to go in a way [that is] not good.
An unjust man allureth his friend: and leadeth him into a way that is not good.
30 Consulting his eyes to devise contrary things, Moving his lips he has accomplished evil.
He that with fixed eyes deviseth wicked things, biting his lips, bringeth: evil to pass.
31 Grey hairs [are] a crown of beauty, It is found in the way of righteousness.
Old age is a crown of dignity, when it is found in the ways of justice.
32 Better [is] the [one] slow to anger than the mighty, And the ruler over his spirit than he who is taking a city.
The patient man is better than the valiant: and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh cities.
33 The lot is cast into the center, And all its judgment [is] from YHWH!
Lots are cast into the lap, but they are disposed of by the Lord.
