Proverbs 16
1 People plan what they want to do, but Yahweh is the one who decides [MTY] what really will happen.
The plans of the heart belong to man; But the answer of the tongue is from Jehovah.
2 People may think that their actions are right, but Yahweh really knows why people do what they do.
All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; But Jehovah weigheth the spirits.
3 (Request/Rely on) Yahweh to direct what you plan to do; [if you do that], you will succeed in what you plan.
Commit thy works unto Jehovah, And thy purposes shall be established.
4 Yahweh knows why he does everything that he does; he has even prepared the wicked for the time that he will punish them.
Jehovah hath made everything for its own end; Yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.
5 Yahweh hates/detests everyone who is proud [IDM]; you can be certain [IDM] that they will be punished [LIT].
Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to Jehovah: [Though] hand [join] in hand, he shall not be unpunished.
6 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).
By mercy and truth iniquity is atoned for; And by the fear of Jehovah men depart from evil.
7 When our behavior pleases Yahweh, he even causes our enemies to act peacefully toward us.
When a man’s ways please Jehovah, He maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.
8 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.
Better is a little, with righteousness, Than great revenues with injustice.
9 People plan what they want to do, but Yahweh directs/determines what they will [really] be able to do.
A man’s heart deviseth his way; But Jehovah directeth his steps.
10 [If] God directs what a king says, what he decides is [always] right/fair.
A divine sentence is in the lips of the king; His mouth shall not transgress in judgment.
11 Yahweh wants us to use scales that are correct; the weights in his bag are correct, [because] he made them.
A just balance and scales are Jehovah’s; All the weights of the bag are his work.
12 Kings detest those who do evil, because [it is people doing what] is fair/right that causes their governments to be [MTY] strong.
It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness; For the throne is established by righteousness.
13 Kings are delighted to hear people say [MTY] what is true; they love those who say what is right/honest.
Righteous lips are the delight of kings; And they love him that speaketh right.
14 If a king becomes angry, he [may] command that someone be executed, [so] wise people will [try to] cause him to be calm.
The wrath of a king is [as] messengers of death; But a wise man will pacify it.
15 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].
In the light of the king’s countenance is life; And his favor is as a cloud of the latter rain.
16 Becoming wise is better than aquiring gold; getting good understanding/insight is better than acquiring silver.
How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! Yea, to get understanding is rather to be chosen than silver.
17 Those whose behavior [MET] is good/right turn away from doing evil; those who guard their conduct [MTY] protect their lives.
The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: He that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.
18 Being proud will (lead to your having/cause you to have) disasters; despising others will result in your being ruined.
Pride [goeth] before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.
19 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).
Better it is to be of a lowly spirit with the poor, Than to divide the spoil with the proud.
20 Those who heed good teaching/instruction will prosper; happy are those who trust in Yahweh.
He that giveth heed unto the word shall find good; And whoso trusteth in Jehovah, happy is he.
21 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].
The wise in heart shall be called prudent; And the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.
22 Being wise is [like having] a fountain that gives life [MET], but foolish people are punished as a result of their acting foolishly.
Understanding is a well-spring of life unto him that hath it; But the correction of fools is [their] folly.
23 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].
The heart of the wise instructeth his mouth, And addeth learning to his lips.
24 Kind words are like honey [SIM]: We enjoy them both, and both cause our bodies to be healthy/strong.
Pleasant words are [as] a honeycomb, Sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
25 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.
There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, But the end thereof are the ways of death.
26 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.
The appetite of the laboring man laboreth for him; For his mouth urgeth him [thereto].
27 Worthless people plan [ways to cause] trouble [for others], and [even] what they say [injures people] like a hot fire does [SIM].
A worthless man deviseth mischief; And in his lips there is as a scorching fire.
28 Deceitful people cause strife/quarreling among other people; those who say false things about other people cause people who are friends to become enemies.
A perverse man scattereth abroad strife; And a whisperer separateth chief friends.
29 Those who act violently entice/encourage others [to also act violently] and lead them along a road that will end in disaster.
A man of violence enticeth his neighbor, And leadeth him in a way that is not good.
30 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.
He that shutteth his eyes, [it is] to devise perverse things: He that compresseth his lips bringeth evil to pass.
31 Gray hair is [like] a glorious crown [MET] that is given to people who have always behaved righteously.
The hoary head is a crown of glory; It shall be found in the way of righteousness.
32 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.
He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; And he that ruleth his spirit, than he that taketh a city.
33 People (cast lots/throw marked stones) [to decide what should be done], but God is the one who truly decides what will happen.
The lot is cast into the lap; But the whole disposing thereof is of Jehovah.
