Proverbs 16
1 To man, belong the preparations of the heart, but, from Yahweh, cometh the answer of the tongue.
All the works of the humble [man] are manifest with God; but the ungodly shall perish in an evil day.
2 All the ways of a man, [may be] pure in his own eyes, but, he that testeth spirits, is Yahweh.
3 Roll, upon Yahweh, thy doings, that thy plans, may be established.
4 Everything, hath Yahweh made for its own purpose, yea, even the lawless one, for the day of calamity.
5 An abomination to Yahweh, is every one who is haughty in heart, hand to hand, he shall not be held innocent.
Every one that is proud in heart is unclean before God, and he that unjustly strikes hands with hand shall not be held guiltless. The beginning of a good way is to do justly; and it is more acceptable with God than to offer sacrifices. He that seeks the Lord shall find knowledge with righteousness: and they that rightly seek him shall find peace. All of the works of the Lord [are done] with righteousness; and the ungodly [man] is kept for the evil day.
6 By lovingkindness and fidelity, shall iniquity be covered, and, in the revering of Yahweh, is a turning away from wrong.
7 When, acceptable to Yahweh, are the ways of a man, even his enemies, doth he cause to make peace with him.
8 Better a little with righteousness, than large revenues, without justice.
9 A man’s heart, deviseth his way, but, Yahweh, directeth his steps.
10 An oracle, is on the lips of a king, in giving sentence, his mouth must not be unfaithful.
[There is] an oracle upon the lips of a king; and his mouth shall not err in judgment.
11 The balance and scales of justice, belong to Yahweh, and, his handiwork, are all the weights of the bag.
The poise of the balance is righteousness with the Lord; and his works are righteous measures.
12 The abomination of kings, is to work lawlessness, for, by righteousness, is established a throne.
An evil-doer is an abomination to a king; for the throne of rule is established by righteousness.
13 The delight of kings, are lips of righteousness, —and, the words of uprightness, he loveth.
Righteous lips are acceptable to a king; and he loves right words.
14 The wrath of a king, [meaneth] messengers of death, but, a man who is wise, will appease it.
The anger of a king is a messenger of death; but a wise man will pacify him.
15 In the light of a king’s countenance, is life, and, his good-pleasure, is like the cloud of harvest-rain.
The son of a king is in the light of life; and they that are in favour with him are as a cloud of latter rain.
16 To acquire wisdom, how much better than gold! and, to get hold of understanding, more choice than silver!
The brood of wisdom is more to be chosen than gold, and the brood of prudence more to be chosen than silver.
17 The highway of the upright, is to avoid evil, He preserveth his soul, who guardeth his way.
The paths of life turn aside from evil; and the ways of righteousness are length of life. He that receives instruction shall be in prosperity; and he that regards reproofs shall be made wise. He that keeps his ways, preserves his own soul; and he that loves his life will spare his mouth.
18 Before grievous injury, pride! and, before a fall, haughtiness of spirit!
Pride goes before destruction, and folly before a fall.
19 Better is lowliness of spirit, with the patient, than a portion of spoil, with the proud.
Better is a meek-spirited [man] with lowliness, than one who divides spoils with the proud.
20 He that showeth discretion concerning a matter, shall find good, and, he that trusteth in Yahweh, how happy is he!
[He who is] skillful in business finds good: but he that trusts in God is most blessed.
21 The wise in heart, shall be called intelligent, and, sweetness of lips, increaseth persuasiveness.
[Men] call the wise and understanding evil: but they that are pleasing in speech shall hear more.
22 A well-spring of life, is discretion to its owner, but, the correction of the foolish, is folly.
Understanding is a fountain of life to its possessors; but the instruction of fools is evil.
23 The heart of the wise, giveth discretion to his mouth, and, upon his lips, increaseth persuasiveness.
The heart of the wise will discern the [things which proceed] from his own mouth; and on his lips he will wear knowledge.
24 A comb of honey, are pleasant words, sweet to the taste and healing to the bone.
Good words are honeycombs, and the sweetness thereof is a healing of the soul.
25 There is a way that enticeth a man, but, at the latter end thereof, are the ways of death.
There are ways that seem to be right to a man, but the end of them looks to the depth of hell. (questioned)
26 The appetite of the toiler, hath toiled for him, for his mouth, hath urged him on.
A man who labours, labours for himself, and drives from [him] his own ruin.
27 An abandoned man, diggeth up mischief, —and, upon his lips, as it were a fire is scorching.
But the perverse bears destruction upon his own mouth: a foolish man digs up evil for himself, and treasures fire on his own lips.
28 A perverse man, sendeth forth strife, and, a tattler, separateth intimate friends.
A perverse man spreads mischief, and will kindle a torch of deceit with mischiefs; and he separates friends.
29 A ruthless man, enticeth his neighbour, and leadeth him in a way, not good.
A transgressor tries [to ensnare] friends, and leads them in ways [that are] not good.
30 Closing his eyes, to devise perverse things, biting his lips, he hath plotted mischief.
And the man that fixes his eyes devises perverse things, and marks out with his lips all evil: he is a furnace of wickedness.
31 A crown of adorning, is a hoary head, in the way of righteousness, it should be found.
Old age is a crown of honour, but it is found in the ways of righteousness.
32 Better he that is slow to anger, than a hero, and he that ruleth his spirit, than he that captureth a city.
A man slow to anger is better than a strong [man]; and he that governs [his] temper better than he that takes a city.
33 Into the lap, is cast the lot, but, from Yahweh, is its every decision.
All [evils] come upon the ungodly into [their] bosoms; but all righteous things [come] of the Lord.
