Proverbs 16
1 Arrangements of the heart [are] of man, An answer of the tongue from YHWH.
To man, belong the preparations of the heart, but, from Yahweh, cometh the answer of 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, [may be] pure in his own eyes, but, he that testeth spirits, is Yahweh.
3 Roll your works to YHWH, And your purposes are established,
Roll, upon Yahweh, thy doings, that thy plans, may be established.
4 YHWH has worked all things for Himself, And also the wicked—for a day of evil.
Everything, hath Yahweh made for its own purpose, yea, even the lawless one, for the day of calamity.
5 Every proud one of heart [is] an abomination to YHWH, Hand to hand—he is not acquitted.
An abomination to Yahweh, is every one who is haughty in heart, hand to hand, he shall not be held innocent.
6 Iniquity is pardoned in kindness and truth, And in the fear of YHWH Turn aside from evil.
By lovingkindness and fidelity, shall iniquity be covered, and, in the revering of Yahweh, is a turning away from wrong.
7 When a man’s ways please YHWH, even his enemies, He causes to be at peace with him.
When, acceptable to Yahweh, are the ways of a man, even his enemies, doth he cause to make peace with him.
8 Better [is] a little with righteousness, Than abundance of increase without justice.
Better a little with righteousness, than large revenues, without justice.
9 The heart of man devises his way, And YHWH establishes his step.
A man’s heart, deviseth his way, but, Yahweh, directeth his steps.
10 An oath [is] on the lips of a king, In judgment his mouth does not trespass.
An oracle, is on the lips of a king, in giving sentence, his mouth must not be unfaithful.
11 A just beam and balances [are] YHWH’s, All the stones of the bag [are] His work.
The balance and scales of justice, belong to Yahweh, and, his handiwork, are all the weights of the bag.
12 Doing wickedness [is] an abomination to kings, For a throne is established by righteousness.
The abomination of kings, is to work lawlessness, for, by righteousness, is established a throne.
13 Righteous lips [are] the delight of kings, And he loves whoever is speaking uprightly,
The delight of kings, are lips of righteousness, —and, the words of uprightness, he loveth.
14 The fury of a king [is] messengers of death, And a wise man pacifies it.
The wrath of a king, [meaneth] messengers of death, but, a man who is wise, 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 a king’s countenance, is life, and, his good-pleasure, is like the cloud of harvest-rain.
16 To get wisdom—how much better than gold, And to get understanding—to be chosen [more] than silver!
To acquire wisdom, how much better than gold! and, to get hold of understanding, more choice than 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 avoid evil, He preserveth his soul, who guardeth his way.
18 Pride [is] before destruction, And before stumbling—a haughty spirit.
Before grievous injury, pride! and, before a fall, haughtiness of spirit!
19 Better is humility of spirit with the poor, Than to apportion spoil with the proud.
Better is lowliness of spirit, with the patient, than a portion of spoil, with the proud.
20 The wise in any matter finds good, And whoever is trusting in YHWH, O his blessedness.
He that showeth discretion concerning a matter, shall find good, and, he that trusteth in Yahweh, how happy is he!
21 For the wise in heart is called intelligent, And sweetness of lips increases learning.
The wise in heart, shall be called intelligent, and, sweetness of lips, increaseth persuasiveness.
22 Understanding [is] a fountain of life to its possessors, The instruction of fools is folly.
A well-spring of life, is discretion to its owner, but, the correction of the foolish, 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, giveth discretion to his mouth, and, upon his lips, increaseth persuasiveness.
24 Sayings of pleasantness [are] a honeycomb, Sweet to the soul, and healing to the bone.
A comb of honey, are pleasant words, sweet to the taste and healing to the bone.
25 There is a way right before a man, And its latter end—ways of death.
There is a way that enticeth a man, but, at the latter end thereof, are the ways of death.
26 A laboring man has labored for himself, For his mouth has caused [him] to bend over it.
The appetite of the toiler, hath toiled for him, for his mouth, hath urged him on.
27 A worthless man is preparing evil, And on his lips [is] as a burning fire.
An abandoned man, diggeth up mischief, —and, upon his lips, as it were a fire is scorching.
28 A contrary man sends forth contention, A tale-bearer is separating a familiar friend.
A perverse man, sendeth forth strife, and, a tattler, separateth intimate friends.
29 A violent man entices his neighbor, And causes him to go in a way [that is] not good.
A ruthless man, enticeth his neighbour, and leadeth him in a way, not good.
30 Consulting his eyes to devise contrary things, Moving his lips he has accomplished evil.
Closing his eyes, to devise perverse things, biting his lips, he hath plotted mischief.
31 Grey hairs [are] a crown of beauty, It is found in the way of righteousness.
A crown of adorning, is a hoary head, in the way of righteousness, it should 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.
Better he that is slow to anger, than a hero, and he that ruleth his spirit, than he that captureth a city.
33 The lot is cast into the center, And all its judgment [is] from YHWH!
Into the lap, is cast the lot, but, from Yahweh, is its every decision.
