Proverbs 16

1 The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from Yahweh.

The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, [are] from the LORD.

2 All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes, but Yahweh weighs the motives.

All the ways of a man [are] clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits.

3 Commit your deeds to Yahweh, and your plans shall succeed.

Commit thy works to the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.

4 Yahweh has made everything for its own end— yes, even the wicked for the day of evil.

The LORD hath made all [things] for himself: yes, even the wicked for the day of evil.

5 Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to Yahweh; they shall certainly not be unpunished.

Every one [that is] proud in heart [is] an abomination to the LORD: [though] hand [join] in hand, he shall not be unpunished.

6 By mercy and truth iniquity is atoned for. By the fear of Yahweh men depart from evil.

By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD [men] depart from evil.

7 When a man’s ways please Yahweh, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

When a man's ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.

8 Better is a little with righteousness, than great revenues with injustice.

Better [is] a little with righteousness, than great revenues without right.

9 A man’s heart plans his course, but Yahweh directs his steps.

A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.

10 Inspired judgments are on the lips of the king. He shall not betray his mouth.

A divine sentence [is] in the lips of the king: his mouth transgresseth not in judgment.

11 Honest balances and scales are Yahweh’s; all the weights in the bag are his work.

A just weight and balance [are] the LORD'S: all the weights of the bag [are] his work.

12 It is an abomination for kings to do wrong, for the throne is established by righteousness.

[It is] an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is established by righteousness.

13 Righteous lips are the delight of kings. They value one who speaks the truth.

Righteous lips [are] the delight of kings; and they love him that speaketh right.

14 The king’s wrath is a messenger of death, but a wise man will pacify it.

The wrath of a king [is as] messengers of death: but a wise man will pacify it.

15 In the light of the king’s face is life. His favor is like a cloud of the spring rain.

In the light of a king's countenance [is] life; and his favor [is] as a cloud of the latter rain.

16 How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! Yes, to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.

How much better [is it] to get wisdom than gold? and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver?

17 The highway of the upright is to depart from evil. He who keeps his way preserves his soul.

The highway of the upright [is] to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.

18 Pride goes before destruction, and an arrogant spirit before a fall.

Pride [goeth] before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.

19 It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor, than to divide the plunder with the proud.

Better [it is to be] of a humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.

20 He who heeds the Word finds prosperity. Whoever trusts in Yahweh is blessed.

He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoever trusteth in the LORD, happy [is] he.

21 The wise in heart shall be called prudent. Pleasantness of the lips promotes instruction.

The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.

22 Understanding is a fountain of life to one who has it, but the punishment of fools is their folly.

Understanding [is] a well-spring of life to him that hath it: but the instruction of fools [is] folly.

23 The heart of the wise instructs his mouth, and adds learning to his lips.

The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips.

24 Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.

Pleasant words [are as] a honey-comb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.

25 There is a way which seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.

There is a way that seemeth right to a man, but the end of it [is] the ways of death.

26 The appetite of the laboring man labors for him, for his mouth urges him on.

He that laboreth laboreth for himself; for his mouth craveth it of him.

27 A worthless man devises mischief. His speech is like a scorching fire.

An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips [there is] as a burning fire.

28 A perverse man stirs up strife. A whisperer separates close friends.

A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.

29 A man of violence entices his neighbor, and leads him in a way that is not good.

A violent man enticeth his neighbor, and leadeth him into the way [that is] not good.

30 One who winks his eyes to plot perversities, one who compresses his lips, is bent on evil.

He shutteth his eyes to devise froward things: moving his lips he bringeth evil to pass.

31 Gray hair is a crown of glory. It is attained by a life of righteousness.

The hoary head [is] a crown of glory, [if] it is found in the way of righteousness.

32 One who is slow to anger is better than the mighty; one who rules his spirit, than he who takes a city.

[He that is] slow to anger [is] better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit, than he that taketh a city.

33 The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from Yahweh.

The lot is cast into the lap: but the whole disposing of it [is] from the LORD.