Proverbs 16
1 Of man [are] arrangements of the heart, And from Jehovah an answer of the tongue.
Unto man belong the resolves of the heart; but from the Lord cometh the expression of the tongue.
2 All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, And Jehovah is pondering the spirits.
Every one of the ways of a man is pure in his own eyes; but the Lord measureth the spirits.
3 Roll unto Jehovah thy works, And established are thy purposes,
Commit unto the Lord thy works, and thy plans will be firmly established.
4 All things hath Jehovah wrought for Himself, And also the wicked [worketh] for a day of evil.
Every thing hath the Lord wrought for its destined end; yes, even the wicked for the day of unhappiness.
5 An abomination to Jehovah [is] every proud one of heart, Hand to hand he is not acquitted.
An abomination of the Lord is every one that is proud of heart: the hand [of God] being against [his] hand, he shall not go unpunished.
6 In kindness and truth pardoned is iniquity, And in the fear of Jehovah Turn thou aside from evil.
Through kindness and truth is iniquity atoned for; 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 Lord receiveth in favor a man's ways, 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 incomes through 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 firmly his steps.
10 An oath [is] on the lips of a king, In judgment his mouth trespasseth not.
There should be a wise sentence on the lips of the king: his mouth should never commit a trespass in judging.
11 A just beam and balances [are] Jehovah's, His work [are] all the stones of the bag.
A just balance and scales belong to the Lord: his work are all the weights in the bag.
12 An abomination to kings [is] doing wickedness, For by righteousness is a throne established.
It should be an abomination to kings to commit wickedness; for through righteousness [alone] can a throne be established.
13 The delight of kings [are] righteous lips, And whoso is speaking uprightly he loveth,
Righteous lips [should obtain] the favor of kings; and him that speaketh uprightly should they love.
14 The fury of a king [is] messengers of death, And a wise man pacifieth it.
The fury of a king is like the messengers of death; but a 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 light of the king's countenance there is life; and his favor 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 obtain wisdom than gold! and to obtain understanding is preferable to 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 preserveth his soul that watcheth his way.
18 Before destruction [is] pride, And before stumbling — a haughty spirit.'
Before downfall [goeth] pride, and before stumbling, haughtiness of spirit.
19 Better is humility of spirit with the poor, Than to apportion spoil with the proud.
Better is it to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide spoil with the proud.
20 The wise in any matter findeth good, And whoso is trusting in Jehovah, O his happiness.
He that reflecteth on a matter wisely will find happiness; and whoso trusteth in the Lord—happiness attend him!
21 To the wise in heart is called, 'Intelligent,' And sweetness of lips increaseth learning.
The wise in heart is called a man of understanding; and the sweetness of the lips increaseth information.
22 A fountain of life [is] understanding to its possessors, The instruction of fools is folly.
Intelligence is a source of life unto its possessor; but the correction of fools is folly.
23 The heart of the wise causeth his mouth to act wisely, And by his lips he increaseth learning,
The heart of the wise maketh his mouth intelligent, and upon his lips he increaseth information.
24 Sayings of pleasantness [are] a honeycomb, Sweet to the soul, and healing to the bone.
[Like] the droppings of honey are pleasant sayings, sweet to the soul, and healing to the bones.
25 There is a way right before a man, And its latter end — ways of death.
There is many a way which seemeth even before a man, but its end are the ways unto death.
26 A labouring man hath laboured for himself, For his mouth hath caused [him] to bend over it.
The desire of the laborer laboreth for him; for his mouth imposeth it on him.
27 A worthless man is preparing evil, And on his lips — as a burning fire.
An ungodly man diggeth up mischief, and on his lips there is as it were a scathing fire.
28 A froward man sendeth forth contention, A tale-bearer is separating a familiar friend.
A perverse man scattereth strife; and a whisperer separateth confident friends.
29 A violent man enticeth his neighbour, And hath causeth him to go in a way not good.
The man of violence misleadeth his neighbor, and maketh him go on a way which is not good.
30 Consulting his eyes to devise froward things, Moving his lips he hath accomplished evil.
He shutteth his eyes to devise perverse things: when he compresseth his lips then hath he fully resolved on evil.
31 A crown of beauty [are] grey hairs, In the way of righteousness it is found.
An ornamental crown is the hoary head, on the way of righteousness can it be found.
32 Better [is] the slow to anger than the mighty, And the ruler over his spirit than he who is taking a city.
One that is slow to anger is better than a hero; and he that ruleth his spirit, than the conqueror of a city.
33 Into the centre is the lot cast, And from Jehovah [is] all its judgment!
In the lap the lot is cast: but from the Lord cometh the whole of its decision.
