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

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 sight, But the Lord weighs the motives.

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 your works to the Lord And your plans will be established.

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

4 T he Lord has made everything for its own purpose, 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 veryone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord; Assuredly, he will 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 lovingkindness and truth iniquity is atoned for, And by the fear of the Lord one keeps away 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 are pleasing to 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 Than great income 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 T he mind of man plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.

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

10 A divine decision is in the lips of the king; His mouth should not err 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 belong to the Lord; All the weights of the bag are His concern.

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

12 I t is an abomination for kings to commit wicked acts, For a throne is established on 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 he who speaks right is loved.

Right and just lips are the delight of a king, and he loves him who speaks what is right.

14 T he fury of a king is like messengers of death, But a wise man will appease it.

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

15 I n the light of a king’s face is life, And his favor is like a cloud with the spring 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 it is to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen above 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 who watches his way preserves his life.

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

18 P ride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before stumbling.

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

19 I t is better to be humble in spirit with the lowly 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 who gives attention to the word will find good, And blessed is he who trusts in the Lord.

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 will be called understanding, And sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness.

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

22 U nderstanding is a fountain of life to one who has it, But the discipline of fools is 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 instructs his mouth And adds persuasiveness to his lips.

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

24 P leasant words are a honeycomb, Sweet to the soul and healing 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 seems right to a man, But its end is the way 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 A worker’s appetite works for him, For his hunger urges him on.

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

27 A worthless man digs up evil, While his words are like scorching fire.

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

28 A perverse man spreads strife, And a slanderer separates intimate friends.

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

29 A man of violence entices his neighbor And leads 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 who winks his eyes does so to devise perverse things; He who compresses his lips brings evil to pass.

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

31 A gray head is a crown of glory; It is 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 who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules his spirit, than he who captures 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 its every decision is from the Lord.

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