Proverbs 16
1 Arrangements of the heart [are] of man, An answer of the tongue from YHWH.
Unto man belong the resolves of the heart; but from the Lord cometh the expression of the tongue.
2 All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, And YHWH is pondering the spirits.
Every one of the ways of a man is pure in his own eyes; but the Lord measureth the spirits.
3 Roll your works to YHWH, And your purposes are established,
Commit unto the Lord thy works, and thy plans will be firmly established.
4 YHWH has worked all things for Himself, And also the wicked—for a day of evil.
Every thing hath the Lord wrought for its destined end; yes, even the wicked for the day of unhappiness.
5 Every proud one of heart [is] an abomination to YHWH, Hand to hand—he is not acquitted.
An abomination of the Lord is every one that is proud of heart: the hand [of God] being against [his] hand, he shall not go unpunished.
6 Iniquity is pardoned in kindness and truth, And in the fear of YHWH Turn aside from evil.
Through kindness and truth is iniquity atoned for; 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 Lord receiveth in favor a man's ways, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.
8 Better [is] a little with righteousness, Than abundance of increase without justice.
Better is a little with righteousness, than great incomes through injustice.
9 The heart of man devises his way, And YHWH establishes his step.
A man's heart deviseth his way; but the Lord directeth firmly his steps.
10 An oath [is] on the lips of a king, In judgment his mouth does not trespass.
There should be a wise sentence on the lips of the king: his mouth should never commit a trespass in judging.
11 A just beam and balances [are] YHWH’s, All the stones of the bag [are] His work.
A just balance and scales belong to the Lord: his work are all the weights in the bag.
12 Doing wickedness [is] an abomination to kings, For a throne is established by righteousness.
It should be an abomination to kings to commit wickedness; for through righteousness [alone] can a throne be established.
13 Righteous lips [are] the delight of kings, And he loves whoever is speaking uprightly,
Righteous lips [should obtain] the favor of kings; and him that speaketh uprightly should they love.
14 The fury of a king [is] messengers of death, And a wise man pacifies it.
The fury of a king is like the messengers of death; but a wise man will appease 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 light of the king's countenance there is life; and his favor is as a cloud of the latter rain.
16 To get wisdom—how much better than gold, And to get understanding—to be chosen [more] than silver!
How much better is it to obtain wisdom than gold! and to obtain understanding is preferable to silver!
17 A highway of the upright [is] to turn from evil, Whoever is preserving his soul is watching his way.
The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he preserveth his soul that watcheth his way.
18 Pride [is] before destruction, And before stumbling—a haughty spirit.
Before downfall [goeth] pride, and before stumbling, haughtiness of spirit.
19 Better is humility of spirit with the poor, Than to apportion spoil with the proud.
Better is it to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide spoil with the proud.
20 The wise in any matter finds good, And whoever is trusting in YHWH, O his blessedness.
He that reflecteth on a matter wisely will find happiness; and whoso trusteth in the Lord—happiness attend him!
21 For the wise in heart is called intelligent, And sweetness of lips increases learning.
The wise in heart is called a man of understanding; and the sweetness of the lips increaseth information.
22 Understanding [is] a fountain of life to its possessors, The instruction of fools is folly.
Intelligence is a source of life unto its possessor; but the correction of fools is folly.
23 The heart of the wise causes his mouth to act wisely, And he increases learning by his lips,
The heart of the wise maketh his mouth intelligent, and upon his lips he increaseth information.
24 Sayings of pleasantness [are] a honeycomb, Sweet to the soul, and healing to the bone.
[Like] the droppings of honey are pleasant sayings, sweet to the soul, and healing to the bones.
25 There is a way right before a man, And its latter end—ways of death.
There is many a way which seemeth even before a man, but its end are the ways unto death.
26 A laboring man has labored for himself, For his mouth has caused [him] to bend over it.
The desire of the laborer laboreth for him; for his mouth imposeth it on him.
27 A worthless man is preparing evil, And on his lips [is] as a burning fire.
An ungodly man diggeth up mischief, and on his lips there is as it were a scathing fire.
28 A contrary man sends forth contention, A tale-bearer is separating a familiar friend.
A perverse man scattereth strife; and a whisperer separateth confident friends.
29 A violent man entices his neighbor, And causes him to go in a way [that is] not good.
The man of violence misleadeth his neighbor, and maketh him go on a way which is not good.
30 Consulting his eyes to devise contrary things, Moving his lips he has accomplished evil.
He shutteth his eyes to devise perverse things: when he compresseth his lips then hath he fully resolved on evil.
31 Grey hairs [are] a crown of beauty, It is found in the way of righteousness.
An ornamental crown is the hoary head, on the way of righteousness can it be found.
32 Better [is] the [one] slow to anger than the mighty, And the ruler over his spirit than he who is taking a city.
One that is slow to anger is better than a hero; and he that ruleth his spirit, than the conqueror of a city.
33 The lot is cast into the center, And all its judgment [is] from YHWH!
In the lap the lot is cast: but from the Lord cometh the whole of its decision.
