Proverbs 16
1 The preparations of the heart belong to man: but the answer of the tongue is from the LORD.
The designs of the heart are man's, but the answer of the tongue comes from the Lord.
2 All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes: but the LORD weigheth the spirits.
All a man's ways are clean to himself; but the Lord puts men's spirits into his scales.
3 Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.
Put your works into the hands of the Lord, and your purposes will be made certain.
4 The LORD hath made every thing for its own end: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.
The Lord has made everything for his purpose, even the sinner for the day of evil.
5 Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: [though] hand [join] in hand, he shall not be unpunished.
Everyone who has pride in his heart is disgusting to the Lord: he will certainly not go free from punishment.
6 By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.
By mercy and good faith evil-doing is taken away: and by the fear of the Lord men are turned away from evil.
7 When a man’s ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.
When a man's ways are pleasing to the Lord, he makes even his haters be at peace with him.
8 Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues with injustice.
Better is a little with righteousness, than great wealth with wrongdoing.
9 A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.
A man may make designs for his way, but the Lord is the guide of his steps.
10 A divine sentence is in the lips of the king: his mouth shall not transgress in judgment.
Decision is in the lips of the king: his mouth will not go wrong in judging.
11 A just balance and scales are the LORD’S: all the weights of the bag are his work.
True measures and scales are the Lord's: all the weights of the bag are his work.
12 It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is established by righteousness.
Evil-doing is disgusting to kings: for the seat of the ruler is based on righteousness.
13 Righteous lips are the delight or kings; and they love him that speaketh right.
Lips of righteousness are the delight of kings; and he who says what is upright is dear to him.
14 The wrath of a king is [as] messengers of death: but a wise man will pacify it.
The wrath of the king is like those who give news of death, but a wise man will put peace in place of it.
15 In the light of the king’s countenance is life; and his favour is as a cloud of the latter rain.
In the light of the king's face there is life; and his approval is like a cloud of spring rain.
16 How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! yea, to get understanding is rather to be chosen than silver.
How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! and to get knowledge is more to be desired than silver.
17 The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.
The highway of the upright is to be turned away from evil: he who takes care of his way will keep his soul.
18 Pride [goeth] before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
Pride goes before destruction, and a stiff spirit before a fall.
19 Better it is to be of a lowly spirit with the poor, than to divide the spoil with the proud.
Better it is to have a gentle spirit with the poor, than to take part in the rewards of war with men of pride.
20 He that giveth heed unto the word shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he.
He who gives attention to the law of right will get good; and whoever puts his faith in the Lord is happy.
21 The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.
The wise-hearted will be named men of good sense: and by pleasing words learning is increased.
22 Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the correction of fools is [their] folly.
Wisdom is a fountain of life to him who has it; but the punishment of the foolish is their foolish behaviour.
23 The heart of the wise instructeth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips.
The heart of the wise man is the teacher of his mouth, and gives increased learning to his lips.
24 Pleasant words are [as] an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
Pleasing words are like honey, sweet to the soul and new life to the bones.
25 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
There is a way which seems straight before a man, but its end is the ways of death.
26 The appetite of the labouring man laboureth for him; for his mouth craveth it of him.
The desire of the working man is working for him, for his need of food is driving him on.
27 A worthless man deviseth mischief: and in his lips there is as a scorching fire.
A good-for-nothing man is a designer of evil, and in his lips there is a burning fire.
28 A froward man scattereth abroad strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.
A man of twisted purposes is a cause of fighting everywhere: and he who says evil secretly makes trouble between friends.
29 A man of violence enticeth his neighbour, and leadeth him in a way that is not good.
A violent man puts desire of evil into his neighbour's mind, and makes him go in a way which is not good.
30 He that shutteth his eyes, [it is] to devise froward things: he that compresseth his lips bringeth evil to pass.
He whose eyes are shut is a man of twisted purposes, and he who keeps his lips shut tight makes evil come about.
31 The hoary head is a crown of glory, it shall be found in the way of righteousness.
The grey head is a crown of glory, if it is seen in the way of righteousness.
32 He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.
He who is slow to be angry is better than a man of war, and he who has control over his spirit than he who takes a town.
33 The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD.
A thing may be put to the decision of chance, but it comes about through the Lord.
