< Proverbs 16 >
1 Of man [are] arrangements of the heart, And from Jehovah an answer of the tongue.
The preparations of the heart are man's, but the answer of the tongue is from the LORD.
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 clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits.
3 Roll unto Jehovah thy works, And established are thy purposes,
Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.
4 All things hath Jehovah wrought for Himself, And also the wicked [worketh] for a day of evil.
The LORD hath made every things for His own purpose, yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.
5 An abomination to Jehovah [is] every proud one of heart, Hand to hand he is not acquitted.
Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD; my hand upon it! he shall not be unpunished.
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 expiated; 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 a man's ways please the LORD, He maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.
8 Better [is] a little with righteousness, Than abundance of increase without justice.
Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues with injustice.
9 The heart of man deviseth his way, And Jehovah establisheth his step.
A man's heart deviseth his way; but the LORD directeth his steps.
10 An oath [is] on the lips of a king, In judgment his mouth trespasseth not.
A divine sentence is in the lips of the king; his mouth trespasseth not in judgment.
11 A just beam and balances [are] Jehovah's, His work [are] all the stones of the bag.
A just balance and scales are the LORD'S; all the weights of the bag are His work.
12 An abomination to kings [is] doing wickedness, For by righteousness is a throne established.
It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness; for the throne is established by righteousness.
13 The delight of kings [are] righteous lips, And whoso is speaking uprightly he loveth,
Righteous lips are the delight of kings; and they love him that speaketh right.
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; but a 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 light of the king's countenance is life; and his favour is as a cloud of the latter rain.
16 To get wisdom — how much better than gold, And to get understanding to be chosen than silver!
How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! yea, to get understanding is rather to be chosen than silver.
17 A highway of the upright [is], 'Turn from evil,' Whoso is preserving his soul is watching his way.
The highway of the upright is to depart from evil; he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.
18 Before destruction [is] pride, And before stumbling — a haughty spirit.'
Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
19 Better is humility of spirit with the poor, Than to apportion spoil with the proud.
Better it is to be of a lowly spirit with the humble, than to divide the spoil with the proud.
20 The wise in any matter findeth good, And whoso is trusting in Jehovah, O his happiness.
He that giveth heed unto the word shall find good; and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he.
21 To the wise in heart is called, 'Intelligent,' And sweetness of lips increaseth learning.
The wise in heart is called a man of discernment; and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.
22 A fountain of life [is] understanding to its possessors, The instruction of fools is folly.
Understanding is a fountain of life unto him that hath it; but folly is the chastisement of fools.
23 The heart of the wise causeth his mouth to act wisely, And by his lips he increaseth learning,
The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips.
24 Sayings of pleasantness [are] a honeycomb, Sweet to the soul, and healing to the bone.
Pleasant 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 which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
26 A labouring man hath laboured for himself, For his mouth hath caused [him] to bend over it.
The hunger of the labouring man laboureth for him; for his mouth compelleth him.
27 A worthless man is preparing evil, And on his lips — as a burning fire.
An ungodly man diggeth up evil, and in his lips there is as a burning fire.
28 A froward man sendeth forth contention, A tale-bearer is separating a familiar friend.
A froward man soweth strife; and a whisperer separateth familiar friends.
29 A violent man enticeth his neighbour, And hath causeth him to go in a way not good.
A man of violence enticeth his neighbour, 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 shutteth his eyes, it is to devise froward things; he that biteth his lips bringeth evil to pass.
31 A crown of beauty [are] grey hairs, In the way of righteousness it is found.
The hoary head is a crown of glory, it is found in the way of righteousness.
32 Better [is] the slow to anger than the mighty, And the ruler over his spirit than he who is taking 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 Into the centre is the lot cast, And from Jehovah [is] all its judgment!
The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD.