Proverbs 16
1 People plan what they want to do, but Yahweh is the one who decides [MTY] what really will happen.
The plans of the heart belong to a person, but from Yahweh comes the answer from his tongue.
2 People may think that their actions are right, but Yahweh really knows why people do what they do.
All of a person's ways are pure in his own eyes, but Yahweh weighs the spirits.
3 (Request/Rely on) Yahweh to direct what you plan to do; [if you do that], you will succeed in what you plan.
Commit your works to Yahweh and your plans will succeed.
4 Yahweh knows why he does everything that he does; he has even prepared the wicked for the time that he will punish them.
Yahweh has made everything for its purpose, 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].
Yahweh hates everyone who has an arrogant heart, but be sure of this, they will not 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).
By covenant faithfulness and trustworthiness iniquity is atoned for and by the fear of Yahweh people turn away from evil.
7 When our behavior pleases Yahweh, he even causes our enemies to act peacefully toward us.
When a person's ways are pleasing to Yahweh, he makes even that person's enemies to be at peace with him.
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 is a little with what is right, than a large income with injustice.
9 People plan what they want to do, but Yahweh directs/determines what they will [really] be able to do.
In his heart a person plans out his way, but Yahweh directs his steps.
10 [If] God directs what a king says, what he decides is [always] right/fair.
Insightful decisions are on the lips of a king, his mouth should not betray justice.
11 Yahweh wants us to use scales that are correct; the weights in his bag are correct, [because] he made them.
Honest scales come from Yahweh; all the weights in the bag are his work.
12 Kings detest those who do evil, because [it is people doing what] is fair/right that causes their governments to be [MTY] strong.
When kings do wicked things, that is something to be despised, for a throne is established by doing what is right.
13 Kings are delighted to hear people say [MTY] what is true; they love those who say what is right/honest.
A king delights in lips that say what is right and he loves the one who speaks directly.
14 If a king becomes angry, he [may] command that someone be executed, [so] wise people will [try to] cause him to be calm.
A king's wrath is a messenger of death but a wise man will try to calm his anger.
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].
In the light of a king's face is life and his favor is like a cloud that brings a spring rain.
16 Becoming wise is better than aquiring gold; getting good understanding/insight is better than acquiring silver.
How much better it is to get wisdom than gold. To get understanding should be chosen more 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 upright people turns away from evil; the one who protects his life guards his way.
18 Being proud will (lead to your having/cause you to have) disasters; despising others will result in your being ruined.
Pride comes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a downfall.
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).
It is better to be humble among poor people than to divide the spoil with proud people.
20 Those who heed good teaching/instruction will prosper; happy are those who trust in Yahweh.
Whoever contemplates what they are taught will find what is good, and those who trust in Yahweh will be blessed.
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].
The one who is wise in heart is called discerning and sweetness of speech improves the ability to teach.
22 Being wise is [like having] a fountain that gives life [MET], but foolish people are punished as a result of their acting foolishly.
Understanding is a fountain of life to the one who has it, but the instruction of fools is their foolishness.
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].
The heart of a wise person gives insight to his mouth and adds persuasiveness to his lips.
24 Kind words are like honey [SIM]: We enjoy them both, and both cause our bodies to be healthy/strong.
Pleasant words are a honeycomb— sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.
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 is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to 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.
The laborer's appetite works for him; his hunger urges him on.
27 Worthless people plan [ways to cause] trouble [for others], and [even] what they say [injures people] like a hot fire does [SIM].
A worthless person digs up mischief and his speech is like a scorching 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.
A perverse person stirs up conflict and a gossip separates close friends.
29 Those who act violently entice/encourage others [to also act violently] and lead them along a road that will end in disaster.
A man of violence lies to his neighbor and leads him down a path that is not good.
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.
The one who winks the eye is plotting perverse things; those who purse the lips will bring evil to pass.
31 Gray hair is [like] a glorious crown [MET] that is given to people who have always behaved righteously.
Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained by living the right way.
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.
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 People (cast lots/throw marked stones) [to decide what should be done], but God is the one who truly decides what will happen.
The lots are cast into the lap, but the decision is from Yahweh.
