1 T he plans of the heart belong to man; But the answer of the tongue is from Jehovah.

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

2 A ll the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; But Jehovah weigheth the spirits.

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

3 C ommit thy works unto Jehovah, And thy purposes shall be established.

Roll your works upon the Lord so shall your plans be established and succeed.

4 J ehovah hath made everything for its own end; Yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.

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

5 E very one that is proud in heart is an abomination to Jehovah: Though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.

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

6 B y mercy and truth iniquity is atoned for; And by the fear of Jehovah men depart from evil.

By 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.

7 W hen a man's ways please Jehovah, He maketh 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, Than great revenues with injustice.

Better is a little with righteousness (uprightness in every area and relation and right standing with God) than great revenues with injustice.

9 A man's heart deviseth his way; But Jehovah directeth his steps.

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

10 A divine sentence is in the lips of the king; His mouth shall not transgress in judgment.

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

11 A just balance and scales are Jehovah's; All the weights of the bag are his work.

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

12 I t is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness; For the throne is established by righteousness.

It 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).

13 R ighteous lips are the delight of kings; And they love him that speaketh right.

Right and just lips are the delight of a king, and he loves 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.

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 of the latter rain.

In the light of the king’s countenance is life, and his favor is as a cloud bringing the spring rain.

16 H ow much better is it to get wisdom than gold! Yea, to get understanding is rather to be chosen than silver.

How much better it is to get skillful and godly Wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.

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

The highway of the upright turns aside from evil; he who guards his way preserves his life.

18 P ride goeth 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 lowly spirit with the poor, Than to divide the spoil with the proud.

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

20 H e that giveth heed unto the word shall find good; And whoso trusteth in Jehovah, happy is he.

He 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.

21 T he wise in heart shall be called prudent; And the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.

The wise in heart are called prudent, understanding, and knowing, and winsome speech increases learning.

22 U nderstanding is a well-spring of life unto him that hath it; But the correction of fools is their folly.

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

23 T he heart of the wise instructeth his mouth, And addeth learning to his lips.

The mind of the wise instructs his mouth, and adds learning and persuasiveness to his lips.

24 P leasant words are as a honeycomb, Sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.

Pleasant words are as a honeycomb, sweet to the mind and healing to the body.

25 T here is a way which seemeth right unto a man, But the end thereof are the ways of death.

There 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.

26 T he appetite of the laboring man laboreth for him; For his mouth urgeth him thereto.

The appetite of the laborer works for him, for his mouth urges him on.

27 A worthless man deviseth mischief; And in his lips there is as a scorching fire.

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

28 A perverse man scattereth abroad strife; And a whisperer separateth chief friends.

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

29 A man of violence enticeth his neighbor, And leadeth him in a way that is not good.

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

30 H e that shutteth his eyes, it is to devise perverse things: He that compresseth his lips bringeth evil to pass.

He who shuts his eyes to devise perverse things and who compresses his lips brings evil to pass.

31 T he hoary head is a crown of glory; It shall be found in the way of righteousness.

The 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).

32 H e that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; And he that ruleth his spirit, than he that taketh a city.

He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.

33 T he lot is cast into the lap; But the whole disposing thereof is of Jehovah.

The lot is cast into the lap, but the decision is wholly of the Lord.