1 T he plans of the mind and orderly thinking belong to man, but from the Lord comes the answer of the tongue.

The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the Lord.

2 A ll the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirits (the thoughts and intents of the heart).

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

3 R oll your works upon the Lord so shall your plans be established and succeed.

Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established.

4 T he Lord has made everything to its own end and His own purpose—even the wicked for the day of calamity and evil.

The Lord hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.

5 E veryone proud and arrogant in heart is disgusting, hateful, and exceedingly offensive to the Lord; be assured they will not go 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 B y mercy and love, truth and fidelity, iniquity is purged out of the heart, and by the reverent, worshipful fear of the Lord men depart from and avoid evil.

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

7 W hen a man’s ways please the Lord, 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 B etter is a little with righteousness (uprightness in every area and relation and right standing with God) than great revenues with injustice.

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

9 A man’s mind plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps and makes them sure.

A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps.

10 D ivinely directed decisions are on the lips of the king; his mouth should not transgress in judgment.

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

11 A just balance and scales are the Lord’s; all the weights of the bag are His work.

A just weight and balance are the Lord’s: all the weights of the bag are his work.

12 I t is an abomination for kings to commit wickedness, for a throne is established and made secure by righteousness (moral and spiritual rectitude in every area and relation).

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

13 R ight and just lips are the delight of a king, and he loves him who speaks what is right.

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

14 T he wrath of a king is as messengers 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 I n the light of the king’s countenance is life, and his favor is as a cloud bringing the spring rain.

In the light of the king’s countenance is life; and his favour is as a cloud of the latter rain.

16 H ow much better it is to get skillful and godly Wisdom than gold! And 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 T he highway of the upright turns aside from evil; he who guards his way preserves his life.

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

18 P ride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.

Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

19 B etter it is to be of a humble spirit with the meek and poor than to divide the spoil with the proud.

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

20 H e who deals wisely and heeds word and counsel shall find good, and whoever leans on, trusts in, and is confident in the Lord—happy, blessed, and fortunate is he.

He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the Lord, happy is he.

21 T he wise in heart are called prudent, understanding, and knowing, and winsome speech increases learning.

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

22 U nderstanding is a wellspring of life to those who have it, but to give instruction to fools is folly.

Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the instruction of fools is folly.

23 T he mind of the wise instructs his mouth, and adds learning and persuasiveness to his lips.

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

24 P leasant words are as a honeycomb, sweet to the mind and healing to the body.

Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.

25 T here is a way that seems right to a man and appears straight before him, but at the end of it is the way of death.

There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

26 T he appetite of the laborer works for him, for his mouth urges him on.

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

27 A worthless man devises and digs up mischief, and in his lips there is as a scorching fire.

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

28 A perverse man sows strife, and a whisperer separates close friends.

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

29 T he exceedingly grasping, covetous, and violent man entices his neighbor, leading him in a way that is not good.

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

30 H e who shuts his eyes to devise perverse things and who compresses his lips brings evil to pass.

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

31 T he hoary head is a crown of beauty and glory if it is found in the way of righteousness (moral and spiritual rectitude in every area and relation).

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

32 H e who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, he 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 T he lot is cast into the lap, but the decision is wholly of the Lord.

The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord.