Proverbs 16
1 Of man [are] arrangements of the heart, And from Jehovah an answer of the tongue.
It is for man to prepare the soul, and for the Lord to govern the tongue.
2 All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, And Jehovah is pondering the spirits.
All the ways of a man are open to his eyes; the Lord is the one who weighs spirits.
3 Roll unto Jehovah thy works, And established are thy purposes,
Open your works to the Lord, and your intentions will be set in order.
4 All things hath Jehovah wrought for Himself, And also the wicked [worketh] for a day of evil.
The Lord has wrought all things because of himself. Likewise the impious is for the evil day.
5 An abomination to Jehovah [is] every proud one of heart, Hand to hand he is not acquitted.
All the arrogant are an abomination to the Lord. Even if hand will be joined to hand, he is not innocent. The beginning of a good way is to do justice. And this is more acceptable with God than to immolate sacrifices.
6 In kindness and truth pardoned is iniquity, And in the fear of Jehovah Turn thou aside from evil.
By mercy and truth, iniquity is redeemed. And by the fear of the Lord, one turns away from evil.
7 When a man's ways please Jehovah, even his enemies, He causeth to be at peace with him.
When the ways of man will please the Lord, he will convert even his enemies to peace.
8 Better [is] a little with righteousness, Than abundance of increase without justice.
Better is a little with justice, than many fruits with iniquity.
9 The heart of man deviseth his way, And Jehovah establisheth his step.
The heart of man disposes his way. But it is for Lord to direct his steps.
10 An oath [is] on the lips of a king, In judgment his mouth trespasseth not.
Foreknowledge is in the lips of the king. His mouth shall not err in judgment.
11 A just beam and balances [are] Jehovah's, His work [are] all the stones of the bag.
Weights and scales are judgments of the Lord. And all the stones in the bag are his work.
12 An abomination to kings [is] doing wickedness, For by righteousness is a throne established.
Those who act impiously are abominable to the king. For the throne is made firm by justice.
13 The delight of kings [are] righteous lips, And whoso is speaking uprightly he loveth,
Just lips are the will of kings. He who speaks honestly shall be loved.
14 The fury of a king [is] messengers of death, And a wise man pacifieth it.
The indignation of a king is a herald of death. And the wise man will appease it.
15 In the light of a king's face [is] life, And his good-will [is] as a cloud of the latter rain.
In the cheerfulness of the king’s countenance, there is life. And his clemency is like belated rain.
16 To get wisdom — how much better than gold, And to get understanding to be chosen than silver!
Possess wisdom, for it is better than gold. And acquire prudence, for it is more precious than silver.
17 A highway of the upright [is], 'Turn from evil,' Whoso is preserving his soul is watching his way.
The path of the just turns away from evils. He who guards his soul preserves his way.
18 Before destruction [is] pride, And before stumbling — a haughty spirit.'
Arrogance precedes destruction. And the spirit is exalted before a fall.
19 Better is humility of spirit with the poor, Than to apportion spoil with the proud.
It is better to be humbled with the meek, than to divide spoils with the arrogant.
20 The wise in any matter findeth good, And whoso is trusting in Jehovah, O his happiness.
The learned in word shall find good things. And whoever hopes in the Lord is blessed.
21 To the wise in heart is called, 'Intelligent,' And sweetness of lips increaseth learning.
Whoever is wise in heart shall be called prudent. And whoever is sweet in eloquence shall attain to what is greater.
22 A fountain of life [is] understanding to its possessors, The instruction of fools is folly.
Learning is a fountain of life to one who possesses it. The doctrine of the foolish is senseless.
23 The heart of the wise causeth his mouth to act wisely, And by his lips he increaseth learning,
The heart of the wise shall instruct his mouth and add grace to his lips.
24 Sayings of pleasantness [are] a honeycomb, Sweet to the soul, and healing to the bone.
Careful words are a honeycomb: sweet to the soul and healthful to the bones.
25 There is a way right before a man, And its latter end — ways of death.
There is a way which seems right to a man, and its end result leads to death.
26 A labouring man hath laboured for himself, For his mouth hath caused [him] to bend over it.
The soul of the laborer labors for himself, because his mouth has driven him to it.
27 A worthless man is preparing evil, And on his lips — as a burning fire.
The impious man digs up evil, and in his lips is a burning fire.
28 A froward man sendeth forth contention, A tale-bearer is separating a familiar friend.
A perverse man stirs up lawsuits. And one who is verbose divides leaders.
29 A violent man enticeth his neighbour, And hath causeth him to go in a way not good.
A man of iniquity entices his friend, and he leads him along a way that is not good.
30 Consulting his eyes to devise froward things, Moving his lips he hath accomplished evil.
Whoever, with astonished eyes, thinks up depravities, biting his lips, accomplishes evil.
31 A crown of beauty [are] grey hairs, In the way of righteousness it is found.
Old age is a crown of dignity, when it is found in the ways of justice.
32 Better [is] the slow to anger than the mighty, And the ruler over his spirit than he who is taking a city.
A patient man is better than a strong one. And whoever rules his soul is better than one who assaults cities.
33 Into the centre is the lot cast, And from Jehovah [is] all its judgment!
Lots are cast into the lap, but they are tempered by the Lord.
