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 the LORD.
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 the LORD weighs the motives.
3 (Request/Rely on) Yahweh to direct what you plan to do; [if you do that], you will succeed in what you plan.
Commit your deeds to the LORD, and your plans shall succeed.
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 its own end— yes, 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].
Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD; they shall certainly 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. By the fear of the LORD 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 the LORD, he makes 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 plans his course, but the LORD directs his steps.
10 [If] God directs what a king says, what he decides is [always] right/fair.
Inspired judgments are on the lips of the king. He shall not betray his mouth.
11 Yahweh wants us to use scales that are correct; the weights in his bag are correct, [because] he made them.
Honest balances and scales are the LORD’s; all the weights in 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 for kings to do wrong, 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. They value one who speaks the truth.
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 king’s wrath is a messenger 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 face is life. His favor is like a cloud of the 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! Yes, to get understanding is to be chosen rather 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 who keeps his way preserves 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 an arrogant 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).
It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor, than to divide the plunder with the proud.
20 Those who heed good teaching/instruction will prosper; happy are those who trust in Yahweh.
He who heeds the Word finds prosperity. Whoever trusts in the LORD is blessed.
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. Pleasantness of the lips promotes instruction.
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 fountain of life to one who has it, but the punishment 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 instructs his mouth, and adds 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 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 seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to 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 labors for him, for his mouth urges 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 worthless man devises mischief. His speech is like 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 stirs up strife. A whisperer separates close 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 entices his neighbor, and leads 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.
One who winks his eyes to plot perversities, one who compresses his lips, is bent on evil.
31 Gray hair is [like] a glorious crown [MET] that is given to people who have always behaved righteously.
Gray hair is a crown of glory. It is attained by a life 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.
One who is slow to anger is better than the mighty; one who rules his spirit, than he who takes 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 its every decision is from the LORD.
