Proverbs 16
1 People plan what they want to do, but Yahweh is the one who decides [MTY] what really will happen.
Human beings may make plans in their minds, but the final decision is the Lord's.
2 People may think that their actions are right, but Yahweh really knows why people do what they do.
People think that whatever they do is fine, but the Lord looks at their intentions.
3 (Request/Rely on) Yahweh to direct what you plan to do; [if you do that], you will succeed in what you plan.
Trust whatever you do to the Lord, and your plans will be successful.
4 Yahweh knows why he does everything that he does; he has even prepared the wicked for the time that he will punish them.
The Lord has a purpose in everything he does, even the wicked for the day of trouble.
5 Yahweh hates/detests everyone who is proud [IDM]; you can be certain [IDM] that they will be punished [LIT].
The Lord hates the arrogant. You can be certain of this: the wicked won't go unpunished.
6 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).
Sin is forgiven through trustworthy love and faithfulness; by honoring the Lord people are saved from evil.
7 When our behavior pleases Yahweh, he even causes our enemies to act peacefully toward us.
When the way that people live pleases the Lord, he makes even their enemies be at peace with them.
8 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.
Better to have just a little and be honest than to have a lot and be dishonest.
9 People plan what they want to do, but Yahweh directs/determines what they will [really] be able to do.
You can plan in your mind what to do, but the Lord will guide you.
10 [If] God directs what a king says, what he decides is [always] right/fair.
The king is inspired in what he says; he is not unreliable in his decisions.
11 Yahweh wants us to use scales that are correct; the weights in his bag are correct, [because] he made them.
Accurate scales and balances are important to the Lord. He has determined all the weights in the bag.
12 Kings detest those who do evil, because [it is people doing what] is fair/right that causes their governments to be [MTY] strong.
It's a terrible thing for a king to do evil, for his throne is based on doing right.
13 Kings are delighted to hear people say [MTY] what is true; they love those who say what is right/honest.
People who tell the truth please kings; they love those who say what is right.
14 If a king becomes angry, he [may] command that someone be executed, [so] wise people will [try to] cause him to be calm.
An angry king can put you to death. If you're wise you'll try and calm him down.
15 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].
If the king is smiling, you'll live; his blessing is like the clouds that bring spring rain.
16 Becoming wise is better than aquiring gold; getting good understanding/insight is better than acquiring silver.
Far better to get wisdom than gold; far better to choose knowledge than silver.
17 Those whose behavior [MET] is good/right turn away from doing evil; those who guard their conduct [MTY] protect their lives.
The highway of the good leads away from evil. If you watch where you're going you'll save your life.
18 Being proud will (lead to your having/cause you to have) disasters; despising others will result in your being ruined.
Pride leads to destruction; and an arrogant spirit leads to a fall.
19 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).
Better to have a humble spirit and live with the poor than to share plunder with the proud.
20 Those who heed good teaching/instruction will prosper; happy are those who trust in Yahweh.
If you pay attention to wise instruction you will do well; you'll be happy if you trust in the Lord.
21 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].
If you think wisely you'll be called perceptive; if you speak pleasantly you'll be persuasive.
22 Being wise is [like having] a fountain that gives life [MET], but foolish people are punished as a result of their acting foolishly.
If you have good sense it will be a fountain of life to you, but stupid people are punished by their stupidity.
23 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].
A wise mind makes sure to say sensible things; the words spoken are persuasive.
24 Kind words are like honey [SIM]: We enjoy them both, and both cause our bodies to be healthy/strong.
Kind words are like a honeycomb—they taste sweet and are healthy for the body.
25 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.
There's a way that seems to be right, but in the end it's the way of death.
26 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.
A good appetite helps workers—hunger encourages them.
27 Worthless people plan [ways to cause] trouble [for others], and [even] what they say [injures people] like a hot fire does [SIM].
Worthless people plot evil and their words burn like fire.
28 Deceitful people cause strife/quarreling among other people; those who say false things about other people cause people who are friends to become enemies.
Quarrelsome people cause conflict, and a gossip comes between the closest friends.
29 Those who act violently entice/encourage others [to also act violently] and lead them along a road that will end in disaster.
Violent people lure their friends, and lead them in a direction that's not good for them.
30 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.
People who give you a sly wink are plotting bad things; they purse their lips and make evil happen.
31 Gray hair is [like] a glorious crown [MET] that is given to people who have always behaved righteously.
Gray hair is a glorious crown; it's achieved by living right.
32 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.
Better to be slow to anger than to be powerful, better to have self-control than to conquer a town.
33 People (cast lots/throw marked stones) [to decide what should be done], but God is the one who truly decides what will happen.
The lot is thrown into the lap, but the Lord makes every decision.
