Proverbs 16
1 People plan what they want to do, but Yahweh is the one who decides [MTY] what really will happen.
The designs of the heart are man's, but the answer of the tongue comes from the Lord.
2 People may think that their actions are right, but Yahweh really knows why people do what they do.
All a man's ways are clean to himself; but the Lord puts men's spirits into his scales.
3 (Request/Rely on) Yahweh to direct what you plan to do; [if you do that], you will succeed in what you plan.
Put your works into the hands of the Lord, and your purposes will be made certain.
4 Yahweh knows why he does everything that he does; he has even prepared the wicked for the time that he will punish them.
The Lord has made everything for his purpose, even the sinner 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].
Everyone who has pride in his heart is disgusting to the Lord: he will certainly not go free from punishment.
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 good faith evil-doing is taken away: and by the fear of the Lord men are turned away from evil.
7 When our behavior pleases Yahweh, he even causes our enemies to act peacefully toward us.
When a man's ways are pleasing to the Lord, he makes even his haters 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 wealth with wrongdoing.
9 People plan what they want to do, but Yahweh directs/determines what they will [really] be able to do.
A man may make designs for his way, but the Lord is the guide of his steps.
10 [If] God directs what a king says, what he decides is [always] right/fair.
Decision is in the lips of the king: his mouth will not go wrong in judging.
11 Yahweh wants us to use scales that are correct; the weights in his bag are correct, [because] he made them.
True measures and scales are the Lord'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.
Evil-doing is disgusting to kings: for the seat of the ruler is based on righteousness.
13 Kings are delighted to hear people say [MTY] what is true; they love those who say what is right/honest.
Lips of righteousness are the delight of kings; and he who says what is upright is dear to him.
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 the king is like those who give news of death, but a wise man will put peace in place of 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 face there is life; and his approval is like a cloud of spring rain.
16 Becoming wise is better than aquiring gold; getting good understanding/insight is better than acquiring silver.
How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! and to get knowledge is more to be desired 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 be turned away from evil: he who takes care of his way will keep his soul.
18 Being proud will (lead to your having/cause you to have) disasters; despising others will result in your being ruined.
Pride goes before destruction, and a stiff 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 have a gentle spirit with the poor, than to take part in the rewards of war with men of pride.
20 Those who heed good teaching/instruction will prosper; happy are those who trust in Yahweh.
He who gives attention to the law of right will get good; and whoever puts his faith in the Lord is happy.
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-hearted will be named men of good sense: and by pleasing words learning is increased.
22 Being wise is [like having] a fountain that gives life [MET], but foolish people are punished as a result of their acting foolishly.
Wisdom is a fountain of life to him who has it; but the punishment of the foolish is their foolish behaviour.
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 man is the teacher of his mouth, and gives increased learning to his lips.
24 Kind words are like honey [SIM]: We enjoy them both, and both cause our bodies to be healthy/strong.
Pleasing words are like honey, sweet to the soul and new life 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 seems straight before a man, but its end is 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 desire of the working man is working for him, for his need of food is driving him on.
27 Worthless people plan [ways to cause] trouble [for others], and [even] what they say [injures people] like a hot fire does [SIM].
A good-for-nothing man is a designer of evil, and in his lips there is a burning 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 man of twisted purposes is a cause of fighting everywhere: and he who says evil secretly makes trouble between 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 violent man puts desire of evil into his neighbour's mind, and makes him go in a way which 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 whose eyes are shut is a man of twisted purposes, and he who keeps his lips shut tight makes evil come about.
31 Gray hair is [like] a glorious crown [MET] that is given to people who have always behaved righteously.
The grey head is a crown of glory, if it is seen 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 who is slow to be angry is better than a man of war, and he who has control over his spirit than he who takes a town.
33 People (cast lots/throw marked stones) [to decide what should be done], but God is the one who truly decides what will happen.
A thing may be put to the decision of chance, but it comes about through the Lord.
