Proverbs 16
1 To man, belong the preparations of the heart, but, from Yahweh, cometh the answer of the tongue.
People plan what they want to do, but Yahweh is the one who decides [MTY] what really will happen.
2 All the ways of a man, [may be] pure in his own eyes, but, he that testeth spirits, is Yahweh.
People may think that their actions are right, but Yahweh really knows why people do what they do.
3 Roll, upon Yahweh, thy doings, that thy plans, may be established.
(Request/Rely on) Yahweh to direct what you plan to do; [if you do that], you will succeed in what you plan.
4 Everything, hath Yahweh made for its own purpose, yea, even the lawless one, for the day of calamity.
Yahweh knows why he does everything that he does; he has even prepared the wicked for the time that he will punish them.
5 An abomination to Yahweh, is every one who is haughty in heart, hand to hand, he shall not be held innocent.
Yahweh hates/detests everyone who is proud [IDM]; you can be certain [IDM] that they will be punished [LIT].
6 By lovingkindness and fidelity, shall iniquity be covered, and, in the revering of Yahweh, is a turning away from wrong.
Be loyal to Yahweh and faithfully [obey] him; if you do that, he will forgive you for having sinned. If we revere him, nothing evil will happen to us (OR, he will prevent evil things from happening to us).
7 When, acceptable to Yahweh, are the ways of a man, even his enemies, doth he cause to make peace with him.
When our behavior pleases Yahweh, he even causes our enemies to act peacefully toward us.
8 Better a little with righteousness, than large revenues, without justice.
It is better to have a small amount of money that is earned honestly than to have a lot of money that is acquired dishonestly.
9 A man’s heart, deviseth his way, but, Yahweh, directeth his steps.
People plan what they want to do, but Yahweh directs/determines what they will [really] be able to do.
10 An oracle, is on the lips of a king, in giving sentence, his mouth must not be unfaithful.
[If] God directs what a king says, what he decides is [always] right/fair.
11 The balance and scales of justice, belong to Yahweh, and, his handiwork, are all the weights of the bag.
Yahweh wants us to use scales that are correct; the weights in his bag are correct, [because] he made them.
12 The abomination of kings, is to work lawlessness, for, by righteousness, is established a throne.
Kings detest those who do evil, because [it is people doing what] is fair/right that causes their governments to be [MTY] strong.
13 The delight of kings, are lips of righteousness, —and, the words of uprightness, he loveth.
Kings are delighted to hear people say [MTY] what is true; they love those who say what is right/honest.
14 The wrath of a king, [meaneth] messengers of death, but, a man who is wise, will appease it.
If a king becomes angry, he [may] command that someone be executed, [so] wise people will [try to] cause him to be calm.
15 In the light of a king’s countenance, is life, and, his good-pleasure, is like the cloud of harvest-rain.
If a king has a smile [MTY] on his face, he will enable people to have a [long] life (OR, he will not order people to be executed); his being pleased [with people] is [as delightful] as rain in the springtime [when seeds are planted].
16 To acquire wisdom, how much better than gold! and, to get hold of understanding, more choice than silver!
Becoming wise is better than aquiring gold; getting good understanding/insight is better than acquiring silver.
17 The highway of the upright, is to avoid evil, He preserveth his soul, who guardeth his way.
Those whose behavior [MET] is good/right turn away from doing evil; those who guard their conduct [MTY] protect their lives.
18 Before grievous injury, pride! and, before a fall, haughtiness of spirit!
Being proud will (lead to your having/cause you to have) disasters; despising others will result in your being ruined.
19 Better is lowliness of spirit, with the patient, than a portion of spoil, with the proud.
It is better to be humble and poor than [to associate with] proud [people] and [to become rich by] dividing with them (plunder/goods captured in a battle).
20 He that showeth discretion concerning a matter, shall find good, and, he that trusteth in Yahweh, how happy is he!
Those who heed good teaching/instruction will prosper; happy are those who trust in Yahweh.
21 The wise in heart, shall be called intelligent, and, sweetness of lips, increaseth persuasiveness.
People say that those who are wise learn what is right/good behavior, and those who talk pleasantly [are able to] influence others [to do what is right].
22 A well-spring of life, is discretion to its owner, but, the correction of the foolish, is folly.
Being wise is [like having] a fountain that gives life [MET], but foolish people are punished as a result of their acting foolishly.
23 The heart of the wise, giveth discretion to his mouth, and, upon his lips, increaseth persuasiveness.
Those who are wise think carefully before they talk, and as a result they are able to influence/persuade others [to do what is right].
24 A comb of honey, are pleasant words, sweet to the taste and healing to the bone.
Kind words are like honey [SIM]: We enjoy them both, and both cause our bodies to be healthy/strong.
25 There is a way that enticeth a man, but, at the latter end thereof, are the ways of death.
There are some kinds of behavior [MET] that people think are right, but (walking on those roads [MET]/continually doing those things) causes those people to die.
26 The appetite of the toiler, hath toiled for him, for his mouth, hath urged him on.
If a worker (has an appetite/is hungry), that urges him to work hard because he [SYN] wants to [earn money to buy things to] eat.
27 An abandoned man, diggeth up mischief, —and, upon his lips, as it were a fire is scorching.
Worthless people plan [ways to cause] trouble [for others], and [even] what they say [injures people] like a hot fire does [SIM].
28 A perverse man, sendeth forth strife, and, a tattler, separateth intimate friends.
Deceitful people cause strife/quarreling among other people; those who say false things about other people cause people who are friends to become enemies.
29 A ruthless man, enticeth his neighbour, and leadeth him in a way, not good.
Those who act violently entice/encourage others [to also act violently] and lead them along a road that will end in disaster.
30 Closing his eyes, to devise perverse things, biting his lips, he hath plotted mischief.
People [sometimes] show with [one of] their eyes [to signal to their friends that they are] planning to do something to harm [others]; they smirk when they are about to do something evil.
31 A crown of adorning, is a hoary head, in the way of righteousness, it should be found.
Gray hair is [like] a glorious crown [MET] that is given to people who have always behaved righteously.
32 Better he that is slow to anger, than a hero, and he that ruleth his spirit, than he that captureth a city.
Those who do not become angry quickly are better than those who are powerful; it is better to (control your temper/keep yourself from becoming very angry) than to conquer a city.
33 Into the lap, is cast the lot, but, from Yahweh, is its every decision.
People (cast lots/throw marked stones) [to decide what should be done], but God is the one who truly decides what will happen.
