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 belong to man, 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 pure 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 your works to the Lord, And your thoughts will 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 for Himself, Yes, even the wicked for the day of doom.

5 E veryone proud and arrogant in heart is disgusting, hateful, and exceedingly offensive to the Lord; be assured they will not go unpunished.

Everyone proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord; Though they join forces, none will go 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.

In mercy and truth Atonement is provided for iniquity; And by the fear of the Lord one departs 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 vast revenues without justice.

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

A man’s heart plans 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.

Divination is on the lips of the king; His mouth must not transgress in judgment.

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

Honest weights and scales are the Lord ’s; All the weights in 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 for kings to commit wickedness, For a 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 who speaks what is right.

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

As messengers of death is the king’s wrath, But a wise man will appease 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 face is life, And his favor is like 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 to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen rather 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 who 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.

Better to be of a 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 who heeds the word wisely will find good, And whoever trusts 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 will be called prudent, And sweetness of the lips increases 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 to him who has it. But the correction 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 teaches his mouth, And adds learning to his lips.

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

Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, Sweetness 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 seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.

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

The person who labors, labors for himself, For his hungry mouth drives him on.

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

An ungodly man digs up evil, And it is on his lips like a burning fire.

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

A perverse man sows strife, And a whisperer separates the best of 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 entices his neighbor, And leads him in a 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 winks his eye to devise perverse things; He purses his lips and brings about evil.

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 silver-haired head 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 who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules his spirit than he who 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 its every decision is from the Lord.