1 O f man arrangements of the heart, And from Jehovah an answer of the tongue.

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 pure in his own eyes, And Jehovah is pondering the spirits.

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 R oll unto Jehovah thy works, And established are thy purposes,

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

4 A ll things hath Jehovah wrought for Himself, And also the wicked for a 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 A n abomination to Jehovah every proud one of heart, Hand to hand he is not acquitted.

Everyone proud and arrogant in heart is disgusting, hateful, and exceedingly offensive to the Lord; be assured they will not go unpunished.

6 I n kindness and truth pardoned is iniquity, And in the fear of Jehovah Turn thou aside 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 please Jehovah, even his enemies, He causeth 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 a little with righteousness, Than abundance of increase without justice.

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 heart of man deviseth his way, And Jehovah establisheth his step.

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

10 A n oath on the lips of a king, In judgment his mouth trespasseth not.

Divinely directed decisions are on the lips of the king; his mouth should not transgress in judgment.

11 A just beam and balances Jehovah's, His work all the stones of the bag.

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

12 A n abomination to kings doing wickedness, For by righteousness is a throne established.

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 T he delight of kings righteous lips, And whoso is speaking uprightly he loveth,

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 messengers of death, And a wise man pacifieth 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 life, And his good-will as a cloud of the latter rain.

In the light of the king’s countenance is life, and his favor is as a cloud bringing the spring rain.

16 T o get wisdom -- how much better than gold, And to get understanding to be chosen than 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 A highway of the upright, `Turn from evil,' Whoso is preserving his soul is watching his way.

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

18 B efore destruction pride, And before stumbling -- a haughty spirit.'

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

19 B etter is humility of spirit with the poor, Than to apportion 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 T he wise in any matter findeth good, And whoso is trusting in Jehovah, O his happiness.

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 o the wise in heart is called, `Intelligent,' And sweetness of lips increaseth learning.

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

22 A fountain of life understanding to its possessors, The instruction 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 causeth his mouth to act wisely, And by his lips he increaseth learning,

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

24 S ayings of pleasantness a honeycomb, Sweet to the soul, and healing to the bone.

Pleasant words are as a honeycomb, sweet to the mind and healing to the body.

25 T here is a way right before a man, And its latter end -- ways 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 labouring man hath laboured for himself, For his mouth hath caused to bend over it.

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

27 A worthless man is preparing evil, And on his lips -- as a burning fire.

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

28 A froward man sendeth forth contention, A tale-bearer is separating a familiar friend.

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

29 A violent man enticeth his neighbour, And hath causeth him to go in a way not good.

The exceedingly grasping, covetous, and violent man entices his neighbor, leading him in a way that is not good.

30 C onsulting his eyes to devise froward things, Moving his lips he hath accomplished evil.

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

31 A crown of beauty grey hairs, In the way of righteousness it is found.

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 B etter the slow to anger than the mighty, And the ruler over his spirit than he who is taking 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 I nto the centre is the lot cast, And from Jehovah all its judgment!

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