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

¶ Of man are the preparations of the heart, 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.

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

3 C ommit your works to the Lord, And your thoughts will be established.

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

4 T he Lord has made all for Himself, Yes, even the wicked for the day of doom.

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

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

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

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

¶ By mercy and truth iniquity is purged, and by the fear of the LORD men depart 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, Than vast revenues without justice.

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

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

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

10 D ivination is on the lips of the king; His mouth must not transgress in judgment.

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

11 H onest weights and scales are the Lord ’s; All the weights in the bag are His work.

¶ A just weight and balance are the LORD’s; all the weights of the bag are his work.

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

¶ It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness, for the throne is to be established with righteousness.

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

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

14 A s messengers of death is the king’s wrath, But a wise man will appease it.

¶ The wrath of the king is as a messenger of death, but the wise man will avoid it.

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

In the light of the king’s countenance is life, and his favour is as a cloud of the latter rain.

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

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

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

¶ The highway of the upright is to separate himself from evil; he that 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 to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, Than to divide the spoil with the proud.

¶ It is better to humble your spirit with the lowly than to divide the spoil with the proud.

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

¶ He who has understanding in the word shall find good, and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD.

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

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

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

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

23 T he heart of the wise teaches his mouth, And adds learning to his lips.

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

24 P leasant words are like a honeycomb, Sweetness to the soul and health to the bones.

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

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

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

26 T he person who labors, labors for himself, For his hungry mouth drives him on.

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

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

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

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

The perverse man sows strife, and the tale bearer separates princes.

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

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

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

He shuts his eyes to devise perverse things; moving his lips he brings evil to pass.

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

¶ Old age 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, And he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.

¶ He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he that rules his spirit than he that 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 judgment thereof is of the LORD.