1 ¶ Of man are the preparations of the heart, but the answer of the tongue is from the LORD.

The preparations of the heart belong to man, But the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.

2 ¶ All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the spirits.

All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, But the Lord weighs the spirits.

3 ¶ Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.

Commit your works to the Lord, And your thoughts will be established.

4 ¶ The LORD has made all things by himself, yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.

The Lord has made all for Himself, Yes, even the wicked for the day of doom.

5 ¶ Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD; the covenant that he makes, shall not be without chastening.

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

6 ¶ By mercy and truth iniquity is purged, and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.

In mercy and truth Atonement is provided for iniquity; And by the fear of the Lord one departs from evil.

7 ¶ When 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 ¶ Better is a little with righteousness than a great number of fruits with injustice.

Better is a little with righteousness, Than vast revenues without justice.

9 ¶ The heart of man devises his way, but the LORD directs his steps.

A man’s heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.

10 ¶ A divine sentence is in the lips of the king; his mouth does not transgress in judgment.

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

11 ¶ A just weight and balance 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 ¶ It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness, for the throne is to be established with righteousness.

It is an abomination for kings to commit wickedness, For a throne is established by righteousness.

13 ¶ Righteous lips are the delight of kings, and they love him that speaks that which is right.

Righteous lips are the delight of kings, And they love him who speaks what is right.

14 ¶ The wrath of the king is as a messenger of death, but the wise man will avoid 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 favour is as a cloud of the latter rain.

In the light of the king’s face is life, And his favor is like a cloud of the latter rain.

16 ¶ How much better is it to acquire wisdom than gold! and to acquire understanding is worth more than silver!

How much better to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.

17 ¶ The highway of the upright is to separate himself from evil; he that keeps his way preserves his soul.

The highway of the upright is to depart from evil; He who keeps his way preserves his soul.

18 ¶ Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.

Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.

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

He who heeds the word wisely will find good, And whoever trusts in the Lord, happy is he.

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

The wise in heart will be called prudent, And sweetness of the lips increases learning.

22 ¶ Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that has it, but the instruction of fools is folly.

Understanding is a wellspring of life to him who has it. But the correction of fools is folly.

23 ¶ The heart of the wise causes his mouth to be prudent, and with his lips he shall increase doctrine.

The heart of the wise teaches his mouth, And adds learning to his lips.

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

Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, Sweetness to the soul and health to the bones.

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

There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.

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

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

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

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

28 T he perverse man sows strife, and the tale bearer separates princes.

A perverse man sows strife, And a whisperer separates the best of friends.

29 ¶ The evil man flatters his neighbour and leads him into the way that is not good.

A violent man entices his neighbor, And leads him in a way that is not good.

30 H e shuts his eyes to devise perverse things; moving his lips he brings evil to pass.

He winks his eye to devise perverse things; He purses his lips and brings about evil.

31 ¶ Old age is a crown of glory if it is found in the way of righteousness.

The silver-haired head is a crown of glory, If it is found in the way of righteousness.

32 ¶ He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he that rules his spirit than he that 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 ¶ The lot is cast into the lap, but the judgment thereof is of the LORD.

The lot is cast into the lap, But its every decision is from the Lord.