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

The plans 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 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 thoughts of the heart.

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

Trust your work to the Lord, and your plans will work out well.

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

The Lord has made all things for His own plans, even the sinful for the day of trouble.

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 who is proud in heart is a shame to the Lord. For sure, that one will be punished.

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

Sin has been paid for by loving-kindness and truth. The fear of the Lord keeps one away from sin.

7 W hen a man's ways please Jehovah, He maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.

When the ways of a man are pleasing to the Lord, He makes even those who hate him to be at peace with him.

8 B etter is a little, with righteousness, Than great revenues with injustice.

A little earned in a right way is better than much earned in a wrong way.

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

The mind of a man plans his way, but the Lord shows him what to do.

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

The lips of the king should decide as God would. His mouth should not sin in deciding what is right or wrong.

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

What is fair in telling the weight of something belongs to the Lord. He cares about all the weights of the bag.

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

It is a hated thing for kings to do what is wrong. For a throne is built on what is right.

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

Lips that speak what is right and good are the joy of kings, and he who speaks the truth is loved.

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

The anger of a king carries death, but a wise man will quiet it.

15 I n the light of the king's countenance is life; And his favor is as a cloud of the latter rain.

Life is in the light of a king’s face, and his favor is like 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.

To get wisdom is much better than getting gold. To get understanding should be chosen instead of silver.

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

The road of the faithful turns away from sin. He who watches his way keeps his life.

18 P ride goeth before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.

Pride comes before being destroyed and a proud spirit comes 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.

It is better to be poor in spirit among poor people, than to divide the riches that were taken 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 listens to the Word will find good, and happy is he who trusts in the Lord.

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

The wise in heart will be called understanding. And to speak in a pleasing way helps people know what you say is right.

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 well of life to him who has it, but to speak strong words to fools is of no use.

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

The heart of the wise has power over his mouth and adds learning to his lips.

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

Pleasing words are like honey. They are sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

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 looks right to a man, but its end is the way of death.

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

A workman’s hunger works for him. The need of his mouth pushes him on.

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

A man of no worth looks for wrong-doing. His words are like burning fire.

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

A bad man spreads trouble. One who hurts people with bad talk separates good friends.

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

A man who hurts people tempts his neighbor to do the same, and leads 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 winks his eyes plans to do bad things. He who closes his lips allows sinful things to happen.

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

Hair that is turning white is like a crown of honor. It is found in the way of being right with God.

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 powerful. And he who rules his spirit is better than he who takes a city.

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

Man decides by throwing an object into the lap, but it is the Lord only who decides.