Proverbs 16
1 Of man [are] arrangements of the heart, And from Jehovah an answer of the tongue.
The plans of the heart belong to a person, but from Yahweh comes the answer from his tongue.
2 All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, And Jehovah is pondering the spirits.
All of a person's ways are pure in his own eyes, but Yahweh weighs the spirits.
3 Roll unto Jehovah thy works, And established are thy purposes,
Commit your works to Yahweh and your plans will succeed.
4 All things hath Jehovah wrought for Himself, And also the wicked [worketh] for a day of evil.
Yahweh has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble.
5 An abomination to Jehovah [is] every proud one of heart, Hand to hand he is not acquitted.
Yahweh hates everyone who has an arrogant heart, but be sure of this, they will not go unpunished.
6 In kindness and truth pardoned is iniquity, And in the fear of Jehovah Turn thou aside from evil.
By covenant faithfulness and trustworthiness iniquity is atoned for and by the fear of Yahweh people turn away from evil.
7 When a man's ways please Jehovah, even his enemies, He causeth to be at peace with him.
When a person's ways are pleasing to Yahweh, he makes even that person's 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 what is right, than a large income with injustice.
9 The heart of man deviseth his way, And Jehovah establisheth his step.
In his heart a person plans out his way, but Yahweh directs his steps.
10 An oath [is] on the lips of a king, In judgment his mouth trespasseth not.
Insightful decisions are on the lips of a king, his mouth should not betray justice.
11 A just beam and balances [are] Jehovah's, His work [are] all the stones of the bag.
Honest scales come from Yahweh; all the weights in the bag are his work.
12 An abomination to kings [is] doing wickedness, For by righteousness is a throne established.
When kings do wicked things, that is something to be despised, for a throne is established by doing what is right.
13 The delight of kings [are] righteous lips, And whoso is speaking uprightly he loveth,
A king delights in lips that say what is right and he loves the one who speaks directly.
14 The fury of a king [is] messengers of death, And a wise man pacifieth it.
A king's wrath is a messenger of death but a wise man will try to calm his anger.
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 a king's face is life and his favor is like a cloud that brings a spring rain.
16 To get wisdom — how much better than gold, And to get understanding to be chosen than silver!
How much better it is to get wisdom than gold. To get understanding should be chosen more than silver.
17 A highway of the upright [is], 'Turn from evil,' Whoso is preserving his soul is watching his way.
The highway of upright people turns away from evil; the one who protects his life guards his way.
18 Before destruction [is] pride, And before stumbling — a haughty spirit.'
Pride comes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a downfall.
19 Better is humility of spirit with the poor, Than to apportion spoil with the proud.
It is better to be humble among poor people than to divide the spoil with proud people.
20 The wise in any matter findeth good, And whoso is trusting in Jehovah, O his happiness.
Whoever contemplates what they are taught will find what is good, and those who trust in Yahweh will be blessed.
21 To the wise in heart is called, 'Intelligent,' And sweetness of lips increaseth learning.
The one who is wise in heart is called discerning and sweetness of speech improves the ability to teach.
22 A fountain of life [is] understanding to its possessors, The instruction of fools is folly.
Understanding is a fountain of life to the one who has it, but the instruction of fools is their foolishness.
23 The heart of the wise causeth his mouth to act wisely, And by his lips he increaseth learning,
The heart of a wise person gives insight to his mouth and adds persuasiveness to his lips.
24 Sayings of pleasantness [are] a honeycomb, Sweet to the soul, and healing to the bone.
Pleasant words are a honeycomb— 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 a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.
26 A labouring man hath laboured for himself, For his mouth hath caused [him] to bend over it.
The laborer's appetite works for him; his hunger urges him on.
27 A worthless man is preparing evil, And on his lips — as a burning fire.
A worthless person digs up mischief and his speech is like a scorching fire.
28 A froward man sendeth forth contention, A tale-bearer is separating a familiar friend.
A perverse person stirs up conflict and a gossip separates close friends.
29 A violent man enticeth his neighbour, And hath causeth him to go in a way not good.
A man of violence lies to his neighbor and leads him down a path that is not good.
30 Consulting his eyes to devise froward things, Moving his lips he hath accomplished evil.
The one who winks the eye is plotting perverse things; those who purse the lips will bring evil to pass.
31 A crown of beauty [are] grey hairs, In the way of righteousness it is found.
Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained by living the right way.
32 Better [is] the slow to anger than the mighty, And the ruler over his spirit than he who is taking a city.
It is better to be slow to anger than to be a warrior and one who rules his spirit is stronger than one who conquers a city.
33 Into the centre is the lot cast, And from Jehovah [is] all its judgment!
The lots are cast into the lap, but the decision is from Yahweh.
