Proverbs 16
1 Of man [are] arrangements of the heart, And from Jehovah an answer of the tongue.
It is the part of man to prepare the soul: and of 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 weigher of spirits.
3 Roll unto Jehovah thy works, And established are thy purposes,
Lay open thy works to the Lord: and thy thoughts shall be directed.
4 All things hath Jehovah wrought for Himself, And also the wicked [worketh] for a day of evil.
The Lord hath made all things for himself: the wicked also for the evil day.
5 An abomination to Jehovah [is] every proud one of heart, Hand to hand he is not acquitted.
Every proud man is an abomination to the Lord: though hand should 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 offer 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 men depart 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 shall 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 great revenues with iniquity.
9 The heart of man deviseth his way, And Jehovah establisheth his step.
The heart of man disposeth his way: but the Lord must direct his steps.
10 An oath [is] on the lips of a king, In judgment his mouth trespasseth not.
Divination 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.
Weight and balance are judgments of the Lord: and his work all the weights of the bag.
12 An abomination to kings [is] doing wickedness, For by righteousness is a throne established.
They that act wickedly are abominable to the king: for the throne is established by justice.
13 The delight of kings [are] righteous lips, And whoso is speaking uprightly he loveth,
Just lips are the delight of kings: he that speaketh right things shall be loved.
14 The fury of a king [is] messengers of death, And a wise man pacifieth it.
The wrath of a king is as messengers of death: and the wise man will pacify 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 is life: and his clemency is like the latter rain.
16 To get wisdom — how much better than gold, And to get understanding to be chosen than silver!
Get wisdom, because it is better than gold: and purchase 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 departeth from evils: he that keepeth his soul keepeth his way.
18 Before destruction [is] pride, And before stumbling — a haughty spirit.'
Pride goeth before destruction: and the spirit is lifted up 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 proud.
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 he that trusteth in the Lord is blessed.
21 To the wise in heart is called, 'Intelligent,' And sweetness of lips increaseth learning.
The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and he that is sweet in words shall attain to greater things.
22 A fountain of life [is] understanding to its possessors, The instruction of fools is folly.
Knowledge is a fountain of life to him that possesseth it: the instruction of fools is foolishness.
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 shall add grace to his lips.
24 Sayings of pleasantness [are] a honeycomb, Sweet to the soul, and healing to the bone.
Well ordered words are as a honeycomb: sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
25 There is a way right before a man, And its latter end — ways of death.
There is a way that seemeth to a man right: and the ends thereof lead to death.
26 A labouring man hath laboured for himself, For his mouth hath caused [him] to bend over it.
The soul of him that laboureth, laboureth for himself, because his mouth hath obliged him to it.
27 A worthless man is preparing evil, And on his lips — as a burning fire.
The wicked man diggeth 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 stirreth up quarrels: and one full of words separateth princes.
29 A violent man enticeth his neighbour, And hath causeth him to go in a way not good.
An unjust man allureth his friend: and leadeth him into a way that is not good.
30 Consulting his eyes to devise froward things, Moving his lips he hath accomplished evil.
He that with fixed eyes deviseth wicked things, biting his lips, bringeth: evil to pass.
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.
The patient man is better than the valiant: and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh 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 disposed of by the Lord.
