Proverbs 16
1 To man, belong the preparations of the heart, but, from Yahweh, cometh the answer of the tongue.
It is the part of man to prepare the soul: and of the Lord to govern the tongue.
2 All the ways of a man, [may be] pure in his own eyes, but, he that testeth spirits, is Yahweh.
All the ways of a man are open to his eyes: the Lord is the weigher of spirits.
3 Roll, upon Yahweh, thy doings, that thy plans, may be established.
Lay open thy works to the Lord: and thy thoughts shall be directed.
4 Everything, hath Yahweh made for its own purpose, yea, even the lawless one, for the day of calamity.
The Lord hath made all things for himself: the wicked also for the evil day.
5 An abomination to Yahweh, is every one who is haughty in heart, hand to hand, he shall not be held innocent.
Every proud man is an abomination to the Lord: though hand should be joined to hand, he is not innocent. The beginning of a good way is to do justice; and this is more acceptable with God, than to offer sacrifices.
6 By lovingkindness and fidelity, shall iniquity be covered, and, in the revering of Yahweh, is a turning away from wrong.
By mercy and truth iniquity is redeemed: and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.
7 When, acceptable to Yahweh, are the ways of a man, even his enemies, doth he cause to make peace with him.
When the ways of man shall please the Lord, he will convert even his enemies to peace.
8 Better a little with righteousness, than large revenues, without justice.
Better is a little with justice, than great revenues with iniquity.
9 A man’s heart, deviseth his way, but, Yahweh, directeth his steps.
The heart of man disposeth his way: but the Lord must direct his steps.
10 An oracle, is on the lips of a king, in giving sentence, his mouth must not be unfaithful.
Divination is in the lips of the king, 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.
Weight and balance are judgments of the Lord: and his work all the weights of the bag.
12 The abomination of kings, is to work lawlessness, for, by righteousness, is established a throne.
They that act wickedly are abominable to the king: for the throne is established by justice.
13 The delight of kings, are lips of righteousness, —and, the words of uprightness, he loveth.
Just lips are the delight of kings: he that speaketh right things shall be loved.
14 The wrath of a king, [meaneth] messengers of death, but, a man who is wise, will appease it.
The wrath of a king is as messengers of death: and the wise man will pacify it.
15 In the light of a king’s countenance, is life, and, his good-pleasure, is like the cloud of harvest-rain.
In the cheerfulness of the king’s countenance is life: and his clemency is like the latter rain.
16 To acquire wisdom, how much better than gold! and, to get hold of understanding, more choice than silver!
Get wisdom, because it is better than gold: and purchase prudence, for it is more precious than silver.
17 The highway of the upright, is to avoid evil, He preserveth his soul, who guardeth his way.
The path of the just departeth from evils: he that keepeth his soul keepeth his way.
18 Before grievous injury, pride! and, before a fall, haughtiness of spirit!
Pride goeth before destruction: and the spirit is lifted up before a fall.
19 Better is lowliness of spirit, with the patient, than a portion of spoil, with the proud.
It is better to be humbled with the meek, than to divide 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!
The learned in word shall find good things: and he that trusteth in the Lord is blessed.
21 The wise in heart, shall be called intelligent, and, sweetness of lips, increaseth persuasiveness.
The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and he that is sweet in words shall attain to greater things.
22 A well-spring of life, is discretion to its owner, but, the correction of the foolish, is folly.
Knowledge is a fountain of life to him that possesseth it: the instruction of fools is foolishness.
23 The heart of the wise, giveth discretion to his mouth, and, upon his lips, increaseth persuasiveness.
The heart of the wise shall instruct his mouth: and shall add grace to his lips.
24 A comb of honey, are pleasant words, sweet to the taste and healing to the bone.
Well ordered words are as a honeycomb: sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
25 There is a way that enticeth a man, but, at the latter end thereof, are the ways of death.
There is a way that seemeth to a man right: and the ends thereof lead to death.
26 The appetite of the toiler, hath toiled for him, for his mouth, hath urged him on.
The soul of him that laboureth, laboureth for himself, because his mouth hath obliged him to it.
27 An abandoned man, diggeth up mischief, —and, upon his lips, as it were a fire is scorching.
The wicked man diggeth evil, and in his lips is a burning fire.
28 A perverse man, sendeth forth strife, and, a tattler, separateth intimate friends.
A perverse man stirreth up quarrels: and one full of words separateth princes.
29 A ruthless man, enticeth his neighbour, and leadeth him in a way, not good.
An unjust man allureth his friend: and leadeth him into a way that is not good.
30 Closing his eyes, to devise perverse things, biting his lips, he hath plotted mischief.
He that with fixed eyes deviseth wicked things, biting his lips, bringeth: evil to pass.
31 A crown of adorning, is a hoary head, in the way of righteousness, it should be found.
Old age is a crown of dignity, when it is found in the ways of justice.
32 Better he that is slow to anger, than a hero, and he that ruleth his spirit, than he that captureth a city.
The patient man is better than the valiant: and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh cities.
33 Into the lap, is cast the lot, but, from Yahweh, is its every decision.
Lots are cast into the lap, but they are disposed of by the Lord.
