Proverbs 16 ~ Proverbs 16

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

The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the Lord.

2 A ll the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but Yahweh weighs the motives.

All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the Lord weigheth the spirits.

3 C ommit your deeds to Yahweh, and your plans shall succeed.

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

4 Y ahweh has made everything for its own end— yes, even the wicked for the day of evil.

The Lord hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.

5 E veryone who is proud in heart is an abomination to Yahweh: they shall certainly not be unpunished.

Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.

6 B y mercy and truth iniquity is atoned for. By the fear of Yahweh men depart 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 Yahweh, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

When a man’s ways please the Lord, he maketh 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 than great revenues without right.

9 A man’s heart plans his course, but Yahweh directs his steps.

A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps.

10 I nspired judgments are on the lips of the king. He shall not betray his mouth.

A divine sentence is in the lips of the king: his mouth transgresseth not in judgment.

11 H onest balances and scales are Yahweh’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 do wrong, for the throne is established by righteousness.

It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is established by righteousness.

13 R ighteous lips are the delight of kings. They value one who speaks the truth.

Righteous lips are the delight of kings; and they love him that speaketh right.

14 T he king’s wrath is a messenger 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 face is life. His favor is like a cloud of the spring 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 it is to get wisdom than gold! Yes, to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.

How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen 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 depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.

18 P ride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.

Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

19 I t is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor, than to divide the plunder with the proud.

Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.

20 H e who heeds the Word finds prosperity. Whoever trusts in Yahweh is blessed.

He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the Lord, happy is he.

21 T he wise in heart shall be called prudent. Pleasantness of the lips promotes instruction.

The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.

22 U nderstanding is a fountain of life to one who has it, but the punishment of fools is their folly.

Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the instruction of fools is folly.

23 T he heart of the wise instructs his mouth, and adds learning to his lips.

The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips.

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

Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.

25 T here is a way which seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.

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

26 T he appetite of the laboring man labors for him; for his mouth urges him on.

He that laboureth laboureth for himself; for his mouth craveth it of him.

27 A worthless man devises mischief. His speech is like a scorching fire.

An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips there is as a burning fire.

28 A perverse man stirs up strife. A whisperer separates close friends.

A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.

29 A man of violence entices his neighbor, and leads him in a way that is not good.

A violent man enticeth his neighbour, and leadeth him into the way that is not good.

30 O ne who winks his eyes to plot perversities, one who compresses his lips, is bent on evil.

He shutteth his eyes to devise froward things: moving his lips he bringeth evil to pass.

31 G ray hair is a crown of glory. It is attained by a life of righteousness.

The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness.

32 O ne who is slow to anger is better than the mighty; one who rules his spirit, than he who takes a city.

He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.

33 T he lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from Yahweh.

The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord.