Proverbs 16
1 The plans of the heart belong to man, but 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 weighs the motives.
All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, And YHWH is pondering the spirits.
3 Entrust your works to the LORD, and your plans will be established.
Roll your works to YHWH, And your purposes are established,
4 The LORD has made everything for its own end—yes, 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 Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: they shall certainly 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 atoned for. 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 with injustice.
Better [is] a little with righteousness, Than abundance of increase without justice.
9 A man's heart plans his course, but the LORD directs his steps.
The heart of man devises his way, And YHWH establishes his step.
10 Inspired judgments are on the lips of the king. He shall not betray his mouth.
An oath [is] on the lips of a king, In judgment his mouth does not trespass.
11 Honest balances and scales are the LORD's; all the weights in 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 do 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. They value one who speaks the truth.
Righteous lips [are] the delight of kings, And he loves whoever is speaking uprightly,
14 The king's wrath is a messenger 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 face is life. His favor is like a cloud of the spring 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 it is to get wisdom than gold. Yes, to get understanding is to be chosen rather 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 who keeps his way preserves 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 a haughty spirit before a fall.
Pride [is] before destruction, And before stumbling—a haughty spirit.
19 It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor, than to divide the plunder with the proud.
Better is humility of spirit with the poor, Than to apportion spoil with the proud.
20 He who heeds the word finds prosperity, and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD.
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. Pleasantness of the lips promotes instruction.
For the wise in heart is called intelligent, And sweetness of lips increases learning.
22 Understanding is a fountain of life to one who has it, but the punishment of fools is their folly.
Understanding [is] a fountain of life to its possessors, The instruction of fools is folly.
23 The heart of the wise instructs 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 a 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 which seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.
There is a way right before a man, And its latter end—ways of death.
26 The appetite of the laboring man labors for him; for his mouth urges him on.
A laboring man has labored for himself, For his mouth has caused [him] to bend over it.
27 A worthless man devises mischief. His speech is like a scorching fire.
A worthless man is preparing evil, And on his lips [is] as a burning fire.
28 A perverse man stirs up strife, and a gossip separates close friends.
A contrary man sends forth contention, A tale-bearer is separating a familiar friend.
29 A man of violence entices his neighbor, and leads him in a way that is not good.
A violent man entices his neighbor, And causes him to go in a way [that is] not good.
30 One who winks his eyes to plot perversities, one who compresses his lips, is bent on evil.
Consulting his eyes to devise contrary things, Moving his lips he has accomplished evil.
31 Gray hair is a crown of glory. It is found in the path of righteousness.
Grey hairs [are] a crown of beauty, It is found in the way of righteousness.
32 One who is slow to anger is better than the mighty; one who rules his spirit, than he who 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 its every decision is from the LORD.
The lot is cast into the center, And all its judgment [is] from YHWH!
