Proverbs 16
1 The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from Yahweh.
People plan what they want to do, but Yahweh is the one who decides [MTY] what really will happen.
2 All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes, but Yahweh weighs the motives.
People may think that their actions are right, but Yahweh really knows why people do what they do.
3 Commit your deeds to Yahweh, and your plans shall succeed.
(Request/Rely on) Yahweh to direct what you plan to do; [if you do that], you will succeed in what you plan.
4 Yahweh has made everything for its own end— yes, even the wicked for the day of evil.
Yahweh knows why he does everything that he does; he has even prepared the wicked for the time that he will punish them.
5 Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to Yahweh; they shall certainly not be unpunished.
Yahweh hates/detests everyone who is proud [IDM]; you can be certain [IDM] that they will be punished [LIT].
6 By mercy and truth iniquity is atoned for. By the fear of Yahweh men depart from evil.
Be loyal to Yahweh and faithfully [obey] him; if you do that, he will forgive you for having sinned. If we revere him, nothing evil will happen to us (OR, he will prevent evil things from happening to us).
7 When a man’s ways please Yahweh, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
When our behavior pleases Yahweh, he even causes our enemies to act peacefully toward us.
8 Better is a little with righteousness, than great revenues with injustice.
It is better to have a small amount of money that is earned honestly than to have a lot of money that is acquired dishonestly.
9 A man’s heart plans his course, but Yahweh directs his steps.
People plan what they want to do, but Yahweh directs/determines what they will [really] be able to do.
10 Inspired judgments are on the lips of the king. He shall not betray his mouth.
[If] God directs what a king says, what he decides is [always] right/fair.
11 Honest balances and scales are Yahweh’s; all the weights in the bag are his work.
Yahweh wants us to use scales that are correct; the weights in his bag are correct, [because] he made them.
12 It is an abomination for kings to do wrong, for the throne is established by righteousness.
Kings detest those who do evil, because [it is people doing what] is fair/right that causes their governments to be [MTY] strong.
13 Righteous lips are the delight of kings. They value one who speaks the truth.
Kings are delighted to hear people say [MTY] what is true; they love those who say what is right/honest.
14 The king’s wrath is a messenger of death, but a wise man will pacify it.
If a king becomes angry, he [may] command that someone be executed, [so] wise people will [try to] cause him to be calm.
15 In the light of the king’s face is life. His favor is like a cloud of the spring rain.
If a king has a smile [MTY] on his face, he will enable people to have a [long] life (OR, he will not order people to be executed); his being pleased [with people] is [as delightful] as rain in the springtime [when seeds are planted].
16 How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! Yes, to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.
Becoming wise is better than aquiring gold; getting good understanding/insight is better than acquiring silver.
17 The highway of the upright is to depart from evil. He who keeps his way preserves his soul.
Those whose behavior [MET] is good/right turn away from doing evil; those who guard their conduct [MTY] protect their lives.
18 Pride goes before destruction, and an arrogant spirit before a fall.
Being proud will (lead to your having/cause you to have) disasters; despising others will result in your being ruined.
19 It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor, than to divide the plunder with the proud.
It is better to be humble and poor than [to associate with] proud [people] and [to become rich by] dividing with them (plunder/goods captured in a battle).
20 He who heeds the Word finds prosperity. Whoever trusts in Yahweh is blessed.
Those who heed good teaching/instruction will prosper; happy are those who trust in Yahweh.
21 The wise in heart shall be called prudent. Pleasantness of the lips promotes instruction.
People say that those who are wise learn what is right/good behavior, and those who talk pleasantly [are able to] influence others [to do what is right].
22 Understanding is a fountain of life to one who has it, but the punishment of fools is their folly.
Being wise is [like having] a fountain that gives life [MET], but foolish people are punished as a result of their acting foolishly.
23 The heart of the wise instructs his mouth, and adds learning to his lips.
Those who are wise think carefully before they talk, and as a result they are able to influence/persuade others [to do what is right].
24 Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
Kind words are like honey [SIM]: We enjoy them both, and both cause our bodies to be healthy/strong.
25 There is a way which seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.
There are some kinds of behavior [MET] that people think are right, but (walking on those roads [MET]/continually doing those things) causes those people to die.
26 The appetite of the laboring man labors for him, for his mouth urges him on.
If a worker (has an appetite/is hungry), that urges him to work hard because he [SYN] wants to [earn money to buy things to] eat.
27 A worthless man devises mischief. His speech is like a scorching fire.
Worthless people plan [ways to cause] trouble [for others], and [even] what they say [injures people] like a hot fire does [SIM].
28 A perverse man stirs up strife. A whisperer separates close friends.
Deceitful people cause strife/quarreling among other people; those who say false things about other people cause people who are friends to become enemies.
29 A man of violence entices his neighbor, and leads him in a way that is not good.
Those who act violently entice/encourage others [to also act violently] and lead them along a road that will end in disaster.
30 One who winks his eyes to plot perversities, one who compresses his lips, is bent on evil.
People [sometimes] show with [one of] their eyes [to signal to their friends that they are] planning to do something to harm [others]; they smirk when they are about to do something evil.
31 Gray hair is a crown of glory. It is attained by a life of righteousness.
Gray hair is [like] a glorious crown [MET] that is given to people who have always behaved righteously.
32 One who is slow to anger is better than the mighty; one who rules his spirit, than he who takes a city.
Those who do not become angry quickly are better than those who are powerful; it is better to (control your temper/keep yourself from becoming very angry) than to conquer a city.
33 The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from Yahweh.
People (cast lots/throw marked stones) [to decide what should be done], but God is the one who truly decides what will happen.
