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 man, 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 weighs the motives.
3 Roll unto Jehovah thy works, And established are thy purposes,
Commit your deeds to the LORD, and your plans shall succeed.
4 All things hath Jehovah wrought for Himself, And also the wicked [worketh] for a day of evil.
The LORD has made everything for its own end— yes, 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.
Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD; they shall certainly 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 atoned for. 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 makes 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 plans his course, but the LORD directs his steps.
10 An oath [is] on the lips of a king, In judgment his mouth trespasseth not.
Inspired judgments are on the lips of the king. He shall not betray his mouth.
11 A just beam and balances [are] Jehovah's, His work [are] all the stones of the bag.
Honest balances and scales are the LORD’s; all the weights in the bag are his work.
12 An abomination to kings [is] doing wickedness, For by righteousness is a throne established.
It is an abomination for kings to do wrong, 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. They value one who speaks the truth.
14 The fury of a king [is] messengers of death, And a wise man pacifieth it.
The king’s wrath is a messenger 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 face is life. His favor is like a cloud of the 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! Yes, to get understanding is to be chosen rather 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 who keeps his way preserves his soul.
18 Before destruction [is] pride, And before stumbling — a haughty spirit.'
Pride goes before destruction, and an arrogant spirit before a fall.
19 Better is humility of spirit with the poor, Than to apportion spoil with the proud.
It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor, than to divide the plunder with the proud.
20 The wise in any matter findeth good, And whoso is trusting in Jehovah, O his happiness.
He who heeds the Word finds prosperity. Whoever trusts 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. Pleasantness of the lips promotes instruction.
22 A fountain of life [is] understanding to its possessors, The instruction of fools is folly.
Understanding is a fountain of life to one who has it, but the punishment of fools is their 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 instructs his mouth, and adds learning 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 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 seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.
26 A labouring man hath laboured for himself, For his mouth hath caused [him] to bend over it.
The appetite of the laboring man labors for him, for his mouth urges him on.
27 A worthless man is preparing evil, And on his lips — as a burning fire.
A worthless man devises mischief. His speech is like a scorching fire.
28 A froward man sendeth forth contention, A tale-bearer is separating a familiar friend.
A perverse man stirs up strife. A whisperer 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 entices his neighbor, and leads him in a way that is not good.
30 Consulting his eyes to devise froward things, Moving his lips he hath accomplished evil.
One who winks his eyes to plot perversities, one who compresses his lips, is bent on evil.
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 attained by a life 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.
One who is slow to anger is better than the mighty; one who rules his spirit, than he who takes 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 its every decision is from the LORD.
