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

¶ 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 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 weighs 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 has made all things by 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; the covenant that he makes, shall not be without chastening.

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 makes 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 a great number of fruits with injustice.

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

¶ The heart of man devises his way, but the LORD directs 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 does not transgress 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 to be established with 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 speaks that which is right.

14 T he king’s wrath is a messenger of death, but a wise man will pacify 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. 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 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 I t is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor, than to divide the plunder 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 finds prosperity. Whoever trusts in Yahweh is blessed.

¶ 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 shall be called prudent. Pleasantness of the lips promotes instruction.

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

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 has 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 causes his mouth to be prudent, and with his lips he shall increase doctrine.

24 P leasant words are a honeycomb, sweet 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 which seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.

¶ There is a way that seems 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.

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

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

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

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

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

29 A man of violence 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 O ne who winks his eyes to plot perversities, one who compresses his lips, is bent on evil.

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

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

¶ Old age is a crown of glory if it is 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 rules his spirit than he that takes 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 judgment thereof is of the LORD.