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

¶ Of man are the preparations of the heart, but 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 weighs 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 has made all things by 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; the covenant that he makes, shall not be without chastening.

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 makes 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 a great number of fruits with injustice.

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

¶ The heart of man devises his way, but the LORD directs 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 does not transgress 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 to be established with 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 speaks that which is right.

14 T he wrath of a king is as messengers of death, but a wise man will pacify it.

¶ The wrath of the king is as a messenger of death, but the wise man will avoid 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 acquire wisdom than gold! and to acquire understanding is worth more 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 separate himself from evil; he that keeps his way preserves his soul.

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

¶ Pride goes before destruction, and a 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.

¶ It is better to humble your 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 who has understanding in the word shall find good, and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD.

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

¶ The wise in heart is called a man of understanding; and the sweetness of the lips shall increase doctrine.

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 has 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 causes his mouth to be prudent, and with his lips he shall increase doctrine.

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

¶ Pleasant words are as a honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and medicine 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 seems 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.

¶ The soul of him that labours, labours for himself; for his mouth craves it of him.

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

¶ The man of Belial digs in search of evil, and in his lips there is as a burning fire.

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

The perverse man sows strife, and the tale bearer separates princes.

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

¶ The evil man flatters his neighbour and leads 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 shuts his eyes to devise perverse things; moving his lips he brings 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).

¶ Old age is a crown of glory if it is 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 rules his spirit than he that takes 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 judgment thereof is of the LORD.