Proverbs 16
1 It is for man to prepare the soul, and for the Lord to govern 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 open to his eyes; the Lord is the one who weighs spirits.
All of a person's ways are pure in his own eyes, but Yahweh weighs the spirits.
3 Open your works to the Lord, and your intentions will be set in order.
Commit your works to Yahweh and your plans will succeed.
4 The Lord has wrought all things because of himself. Likewise the impious is for the evil day.
Yahweh has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble.
5 All the arrogant are an abomination to the Lord. Even if hand will be joined to hand, he is not innocent. The beginning of a good way is to do justice. And this is more acceptable with God than to immolate sacrifices.
Yahweh hates everyone who has an arrogant heart, but be sure of this, they will not go unpunished.
6 By mercy and truth, iniquity is redeemed. And by the fear of the Lord, one turns away from evil.
By covenant faithfulness and trustworthiness iniquity is atoned for and by the fear of Yahweh people turn away from evil.
7 When the ways of man will please the Lord, he will convert even his enemies to peace.
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 justice, than many fruits with iniquity.
Better is a little with what is right, than a large income with injustice.
9 The heart of man disposes his way. But it is for Lord to direct his steps.
In his heart a person plans out his way, but Yahweh directs his steps.
10 Foreknowledge is in the lips of the king. His mouth shall not err in judgment.
Insightful decisions are on the lips of a king, his mouth should not betray justice.
11 Weights and scales are judgments of the Lord. And all the stones in the bag are his work.
Honest scales come from Yahweh; all the weights in the bag are his work.
12 Those who act impiously are abominable to the king. For the throne is made firm by justice.
When kings do wicked things, that is something to be despised, for a throne is established by doing what is right.
13 Just lips are the will of kings. He who speaks honestly shall be loved.
A king delights in lips that say what is right and he loves the one who speaks directly.
14 The indignation of a king is a herald of death. And the wise man will appease it.
A king's wrath is a messenger of death but a wise man will try to calm his anger.
15 In the cheerfulness of the king’s countenance, there is life. And his clemency is like belated rain.
In the light of a king's face is life and his favor is like a cloud that brings a spring rain.
16 Possess wisdom, for it is better than gold. And acquire prudence, for it is more precious than silver.
How much better it is to get wisdom than gold. To get understanding should be chosen more than silver.
17 The path of the just turns away from evils. He who guards his soul preserves his way.
The highway of upright people turns away from evil; the one who protects his life guards his way.
18 Arrogance precedes destruction. And the spirit is exalted before a fall.
Pride comes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a downfall.
19 It is better to be humbled with the meek, than to divide spoils with the arrogant.
It is better to be humble among poor people than to divide the spoil with proud people.
20 The learned in word shall find good things. And whoever hopes in the Lord is blessed.
Whoever contemplates what they are taught will find what is good, and those who trust in Yahweh will be blessed.
21 Whoever is wise in heart shall be called prudent. And whoever is sweet in eloquence shall attain to what is greater.
The one who is wise in heart is called discerning and sweetness of speech improves the ability to teach.
22 Learning is a fountain of life to one who possesses it. The doctrine of the foolish is senseless.
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 shall instruct his mouth and add grace to his lips.
The heart of a wise person gives insight to his mouth and adds persuasiveness to his lips.
24 Careful words are a honeycomb: sweet to the soul and healthful to the bones.
Pleasant words are a honeycomb— sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.
25 There is a way which seems right to a man, and its end result leads to death.
There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.
26 The soul of the laborer labors for himself, because his mouth has driven him to it.
The laborer's appetite works for him; his hunger urges him on.
27 The impious man digs up evil, and in his lips is a burning fire.
A worthless person digs up mischief and his speech is like a scorching fire.
28 A perverse man stirs up lawsuits. And one who is verbose divides leaders.
A perverse person stirs up conflict and a gossip separates close friends.
29 A man of iniquity entices his friend, and he leads him along a way that is not good.
A man of violence lies to his neighbor and leads him down a path that is not good.
30 Whoever, with astonished eyes, thinks up depravities, biting his lips, accomplishes evil.
The one who winks the eye is plotting perverse things; those who purse the lips will bring evil to pass.
31 Old age is a crown of dignity, when it is found in the ways of justice.
Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained by living the right way.
32 A patient man is better than a strong one. And whoever rules his soul is better than one who assaults cities.
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 Lots are cast into the lap, but they are tempered by the Lord.
The lots are cast into the lap, but the decision is from Yahweh.
