Proverbs 16
1 To man, belong the preparations of the heart, but, from Yahweh, cometh the answer of the tongue.
The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the LORD.
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 clean in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the motives.
3 Roll, upon Yahweh, thy doings, that thy plans, may be established.
Commit your deeds to the LORD, and your plans shall succeed.
4 Everything, hath Yahweh made for its own purpose, yea, even the lawless one, for the day of calamity.
The LORD has made everything for its own end— yes, even the wicked for the day of evil.
5 An abomination to Yahweh, is every one who is haughty in heart, hand to hand, he shall not be held innocent.
Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD; they shall certainly not be unpunished.
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 atoned for. 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 a man’s ways please the LORD, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
8 Better a little with righteousness, than large revenues, without justice.
Better is a little with righteousness, than great revenues with injustice.
9 A man’s heart, deviseth his way, but, Yahweh, directeth his steps.
A man’s heart plans his course, but the LORD directs his steps.
10 An oracle, is on the lips of a king, in giving sentence, his mouth must not be unfaithful.
Inspired judgments are on the lips of the king. He shall not betray his mouth.
11 The balance and scales of justice, belong to Yahweh, and, his handiwork, are all the weights of the bag.
Honest balances and scales are the LORD’s; all the weights in the bag are his work.
12 The abomination of kings, is to work lawlessness, for, by righteousness, is established a throne.
It is an abomination for kings to do wrong, for the throne is established by righteousness.
13 The delight of kings, are lips of righteousness, —and, the words of uprightness, he loveth.
Righteous lips are the delight of kings. They value one who speaks the truth.
14 The wrath of a king, [meaneth] messengers of death, but, a man who is wise, will appease it.
The king’s wrath is a messenger of death, but a 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 light of the king’s face is life. His favor is like a cloud of the spring rain.
16 To acquire wisdom, how much better than gold! and, to get hold of understanding, more choice than silver!
How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! Yes, to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.
17 The highway of the upright, is to avoid evil, He preserveth his soul, who guardeth his way.
The highway of the upright is to depart from evil. He who keeps his way preserves his soul.
18 Before grievous injury, pride! and, before a fall, haughtiness of spirit!
Pride goes before destruction, and an arrogant spirit 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 of a lowly spirit with the poor, than to divide the plunder 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 heeds the Word finds prosperity. Whoever trusts 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. Pleasantness of the lips promotes instruction.
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 one who has it, but the punishment of fools is their folly.
23 The heart of the wise, giveth discretion to his mouth, and, upon his lips, increaseth persuasiveness.
The heart of the wise instructs his mouth, and adds learning to his lips.
24 A comb of honey, are pleasant words, sweet to the taste and healing to the bone.
Pleasant words are 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 which seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.
26 The appetite of the toiler, hath toiled for him, for his mouth, hath urged him on.
The appetite of the laboring man labors for him, for his mouth urges him on.
27 An abandoned man, diggeth up mischief, —and, upon his lips, as it were a fire is scorching.
A worthless man devises mischief. His speech is like a scorching fire.
28 A perverse man, sendeth forth strife, and, a tattler, separateth intimate friends.
A perverse man stirs up strife. A whisperer separates close friends.
29 A ruthless man, enticeth his neighbour, and leadeth him in a way, not good.
A man of violence entices his neighbor, and leads him in a way that is not good.
30 Closing his eyes, to devise perverse things, biting his lips, he hath plotted mischief.
One who winks his eyes to plot perversities, one who compresses his lips, is bent on evil.
31 A crown of adorning, is a hoary head, in the way of righteousness, it should be found.
Gray hair is a crown of glory. It is attained by a life 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.
One who is slow to anger is better than the mighty; one who rules his spirit, than he who takes a city.
33 Into the lap, is cast the lot, but, from Yahweh, is its every decision.
The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.
