Proverbs 16

1It is the part of man to prepare the soul: and of the Lord to govern the tongue.

1The designs of the heart are man's, but the answer of the tongue comes from the Lord.

1Of man <FI>are<Fi> arrangements of the heart, And from Jehovah an answer of the tongue.

2All the ways of a man are open to his eyes: the Lord is the weigher of spirits.

2All a man's ways are clean to himself; but the Lord puts men's spirits into his scales.

2All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, And Jehovah is pondering the spirits.

3Lay open thy works to the Lord: and thy thoughts shall be directed.

3Put your works into the hands of the Lord, and your purposes will be made certain.

3Roll unto Jehovah thy works, And established are thy purposes,

4The Lord hath made all things for himself: the wicked also for the evil day.

4The Lord has made everything for his purpose, even the sinner for the day of evil.

4All things hath Jehovah wrought for Himself, And also the wicked <FI>worketh<Fi> for a day of evil.

5Every proud man is an abomination to the Lord: though hand should be joined to hand, he is not innocent. The beginning of a good way is to do justice: and this is more acceptable with God, than to offer sacrifices.

5Everyone who has pride in his heart is disgusting to the Lord: he will certainly not go free from punishment.

5An abomination to Jehovah <FI>is<Fi> every proud one of heart, Hand to hand he is not acquitted.

6By mercy and truth iniquity is redeemed; and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.

6By mercy and good faith evil-doing is taken away: and by the fear of the Lord men are turned away from evil.

6In kindness and truth pardoned is iniquity, And in the fear of Jehovah Turn thou aside from evil.

7When the ways of man shall please the Lord, he will convert even his enemies to peace.

7When a man's ways are pleasing to the Lord, he makes even his haters be at peace with him.

7When a man's ways please Jehovah, even his enemies, He causeth to be at peace with him.

8Better is a little with justice, than great revenues with iniquity.

8Better is a little with righteousness, than great wealth with wrongdoing.

8Better <FI>is<Fi> a little with righteousness, Than abundance of increase without justice.

9The heart of man disposeth his way: but the Lord must direct his steps.

9A man may make designs for his way, but the Lord is the guide of his steps.

9The heart of man deviseth his way, And Jehovah establisheth his step.

10Divination is in the lips of the king, his mouth shall not err in judgment.

10Decision is in the lips of the king: his mouth will not go wrong in judging.

10An oath <FI>is<Fi> on the lips of a king, In judgment his mouth trespasseth not.

11Weight and balance are judgments of the Lord: and his work all the weights of the bag.

11True measures and scales are the Lord's: all the weights of the bag are his work.

11A just beam and balances <FI>are<Fi> Jehovah's, His work <FI>are<Fi> all the stones of the bag.

12They that act wickedly are abominable to the king: for the throne is established by justice.

12Evil-doing is disgusting to kings: for the seat of the ruler is based on righteousness.

12An abomination to kings <FI>is<Fi> doing wickedness, For by righteousness is a throne established.

13Just lips are the delight of kings: he that speaketh right things shall be loved.

13Lips of righteousness are the delight of kings; and he who says what is upright is dear to him.

13The delight of kings <FI>are<Fi> righteous lips, And whoso is speaking uprightly he loveth,

14The wrath of a king is as messengers of death: and the wise man will pacify it.

14The wrath of the king is like those who give news of death, but a wise man will put peace in place of it.

14The fury of a king <FI>is<Fi> messengers of death, And a wise man pacifieth it.

15In the cheerfulness of the king's countenance is life: and his clemency is like the latter rain.

15In the light of the king's face there is life; and his approval is like a cloud of spring rain.

15In the light of a king's face <FI>is<Fi> life, And his good-will <FI>is<Fi> as a cloud of the latter rain.

16Get wisdom, because it is better than gold: and purchase prudence, for it is more precious than silver.

16How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! and to get knowledge is more to be desired than silver.

16To get wisdom--how much better than gold, And to get understanding to be chosen than silver!

17The path of the just departeth from evils: he that keepeth his soul keepeth his way.

17The highway of the upright is to be turned away from evil: he who takes care of his way will keep his soul.

17A highway of the upright <FI>is<Fi> , `Turn from evil,' Whoso is preserving his soul is watching his way.

18Pride goeth before destruction: and the spirit is lifted up before a fall.

18Pride goes before destruction, and a stiff spirit before a fall.

18Before destruction <FI>is<Fi> pride, And before stumbling--a haughty spirit.'

19It is better to be humbled with the meek, than to divide spoils with the proud.

19Better it is to have a gentle spirit with the poor, than to take part in the rewards of war with men of pride.

19Better is humility of spirit with the poor, Than to apportion spoil with the proud.

20The learned in word shall find good things: and he that trusteth in the Lord is blessed.

20He who gives attention to the law of right will get good; and whoever puts his faith in the Lord is happy.

20The wise in any matter findeth good, And whoso is trusting in Jehovah, O his happiness.

21The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and he that is sweet in words, shall attain to greater things.

21The wise-hearted will be named men of good sense: and by pleasing words learning is increased.

21To the wise in heart is called, `Intelligent,' And sweetness of lips increaseth learning.

22Knowledge is a fountain of life to him that possesseth it: the instruction of fools is foolishness.

22Wisdom is a fountain of life to him who has it; but the punishment of the foolish is their foolish behaviour.

22A fountain of life <FI>is<Fi> understanding to its possessors, The instruction of fools is folly.

23The heart of the wise shall instruct his mouth: and shall add grace to his lips.

23The heart of the wise man is the teacher of his mouth, and gives increased learning to his lips.

23The heart of the wise causeth his mouth to act wisely, And by his lips he increaseth learning,

24Well ordered words are as a honeycomb: sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.

24Pleasing words are like honey, sweet to the soul and new life to the bones.

24Sayings of pleasantness <FI>are<Fi> a honeycomb, Sweet to the soul, and healing to the bone.

25There is a way that seemeth to a man right: and the ends thereof lead to death.

25There is a way which seems straight before a man, but its end is the ways of death.

25There is a way right before a man, And its latter end--ways of death.

26The soul of him that laboureth, laboureth for himself, because his mouth hath obliged him to it.

26The desire of the working man is working for him, for his need of food is driving him on.

26A labouring man hath laboured for himself, For his mouth hath caused <FI>him<Fi> to bend over it.

27The wicked man diggeth evil, and in his lips is a burning fire.

27A good-for-nothing man is a designer of evil, and in his lips there is a burning fire.

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

28A perverse man stirreth up quarrels: and one full of words separateth princes.

28A man of twisted purposes is a cause of fighting everywhere: and he who says evil secretly makes trouble between friends.

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

29An unjust man allureth his friend: and leadeth him into a way that is not good.

29A violent man puts desire of evil into his neighbour's mind, and makes him go in a way which is not good.

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

30He that with fixed eyes deviseth wicked things, biting his lips, bringeth evil to pass.

30He whose eyes are shut is a man of twisted purposes, and he who keeps his lips shut tight makes evil come about.

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

31Old age is a crown of dignity, when it is found in the ways of justice.

31The grey head is a crown of glory, if it is seen in the way of righteousness.

31A crown of beauty <FI>are<Fi> grey hairs, In the way of righteousness it is found.

32The patient man is better than the valiant: and he that ruleth his spirit, than he that taketh cities.

32He who is slow to be angry is better than a man of war, and he who has control over his spirit than he who takes a town.

32Better <FI>is<Fi> the slow to anger than the mighty, And the ruler over his spirit than he who is taking a city.

33Lots are cast into the lap, but they are disposed of by the Lord.

33A thing may be put to the decision of chance, but it comes about through the Lord.

33Into the centre is the lot cast, And from Jehovah <FI>is<Fi> all its judgment!