Proverbiorum 16
1 Hominis est animam præparare: et Domini gubernare linguam.
The designs of the heart are man's, but the answer of the tongue comes from the Lord.
2 Omnes viæ hominis patent oculis eius: spirituum ponderator est Dominus.
All a man's ways are clean to himself; but the Lord puts men's spirits into his scales.
3 Revela Domino opera tua, et dirigentur cogitationes tuæ.
Put your works into the hands of the Lord, and your purposes will be made certain.
4 Universa propter semetipsum operatus est Dominus: impium quoque ad diem malum.
The Lord has made everything for his purpose, even the sinner for the day of evil.
5 Abominatio Domini est omnis arrogans: etiamsi manus ad manum fuerit, non est innocens. Initium viæ bonæ, facere iustitiam: accepta est autem apud Deum magis, quam immolare hostias.
Everyone who has pride in his heart is disgusting to the Lord: he will certainly not go free from punishment.
6 Misericordia et veritate redimitur iniquitas: et in timore Domini declinatur a malo.
By mercy and good faith evil-doing is taken away: and by the fear of the Lord men are turned away from evil.
7 Cum placuerint Domino viæ hominis, inimicos quoque eius convertet ad pacem.
When a man's ways are pleasing to the Lord, he makes even his haters be at peace with him.
8 Melius est parum cum iustitia, quam multi fructus cum iniquitate.
Better is a little with righteousness, than great wealth with wrongdoing.
9 Cor hominis disponit viam suam: sed Domini est dirigere gressus eius.
A man may make designs for his way, but the Lord is the guide of his steps.
10 Divinatio in labiis regis, in iudicio non errabit os eius.
Decision is in the lips of the king: his mouth will not go wrong in judging.
11 Pondus et statera iudicia Domini sunt: et opera eius omnes lapides sacculi.
True measures and scales are the Lord's: all the weights of the bag are his work.
12 Abominabiles regi qui agunt impie: quoniam iustitia firmatur solium.
Evil-doing is disgusting to kings: for the seat of the ruler is based on righteousness.
13 Voluntas regum labia iusta: qui recta loquitur, diligetur:
Lips of righteousness are the delight of kings; and he who says what is upright is dear to him.
14 Indignatio regis, nuncii mortis: et vir sapiens placabit eam.
The wrath of the king is like those who give news of death, but a wise man will put peace in place of it.
15 In hilaritate vultus regis, vita: et clementia eius quasi imber serotinus.
In the light of the king's face there is life; and his approval is like a cloud of spring rain.
16 Posside sapientiam, quia auro melior est: et acquire prudentiam, quia pretiosior est argento.
How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! and to get knowledge is more to be desired than silver.
17 Semita iustorum declinat mala: custos animæ suæ servat viam suam.
The highway of the upright is to be turned away from evil: he who takes care of his way will keep his soul.
18 Contritionem præcedit superbia: et ante ruinam exaltatur spiritus.
Pride goes before destruction, and a stiff spirit before a fall.
19 Melius est humiliari cum mitibus, quam dividere spolia cum superbis.
Better it is to have a gentle spirit with the poor, than to take part in the rewards of war with men of pride.
20 Eruditus in verbo reperiet bona: et qui sperat in Domino, beatus est.
He who gives attention to the law of right will get good; and whoever puts his faith in the Lord is happy.
21 Qui sapiens est corde, appellabitur prudens: et qui dulcis eloquio, maiora percipiet.
The wise-hearted will be named men of good sense: and by pleasing words learning is increased.
22 Fons vitæ eruditio possidentis: doctrina stultorum fatuitas.
Wisdom is a fountain of life to him who has it; but the punishment of the foolish is their foolish behaviour.
23 Cor sapientis erudiet os eius: et labiis eius addet gratiam.
The heart of the wise man is the teacher of his mouth, and gives increased learning to his lips.
24 Favus mellis, composita verba: dulcedo animæ, sanitas ossium.
Pleasing words are like honey, sweet to the soul and new life to the bones.
25 Est via quæ videtur homini recta: et novissima eius ducunt ad mortem.
There is a way which seems straight before a man, but its end is the ways of death.
26 Anima laborantis laborat sibi, quia compulit eum os suum:
The desire of the working man is working for him, for his need of food is driving him on.
27 Vir impius fodit malum, et in labiis eius ignis ardescit.
A good-for-nothing man is a designer of evil, and in his lips there is a burning fire.
28 Homo perversus suscitat lites: et verbosus separat principes.
A man of twisted purposes is a cause of fighting everywhere: and he who says evil secretly makes trouble between friends.
29 Vir iniquus lactat amicum suum: et ducit eum per viam non bonam.
A violent man puts desire of evil into his neighbour's mind, and makes him go in a way which is not good.
30 Qui attonitis oculis cogitat prava, mordens labia sua perficit malum.
He whose eyes are shut is a man of twisted purposes, and he who keeps his lips shut tight makes evil come about.
31 Corona dignitatis senectus, quæ in viis iustitiæ reperietur.
The grey head is a crown of glory, if it is seen in the way of righteousness.
32 Melior est patiens viro forti: et qui dominatur animo suo, expugnatore urbium.
He who is slow to be angry is better than a man of war, and he who has control over his spirit than he who takes a town.
33 Sortes mittuntur in sinum, sed a Domino temperantur.
A thing may be put to the decision of chance, but it comes about through the Lord.
