16 The apreparations 1of the heart belong to man,

bBut the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.

2 All the ways of a man are pure in his own ceyes,

But the Lord weighs the spirits.

3 dCommit 2your works to the Lord,

And your thoughts will be established.

4 The eLord has made all for Himself,

fYes, even the wicked for the day of 3doom.

5 gEveryone proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord;

Though they join 4forces, none will go unpunished.

6 hIn mercy and truth

Atonement is provided for iniquity;

And iby the fear of the Lord one departs from evil.

7 When a man’s ways please the Lord,

He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

8 jBetter is a little with righteousness,

Than vast revenues without justice.

9 kA man’s heart plans his way,

lBut the Lord directs his steps.

10 Divination is on the lips of the king;

His mouth must not transgress in judgment.

11 mHonest weights and scales are the Lord’s;

All the weights in the bag are His 5work.

12 It is an abomination for kings to commit wickedness,

For na throne is established by righteousness.

13 oRighteous lips are the delight of kings,

And they love him who speaks what is right.

14 As messengers of death is the king’s wrath,

But a wise man will pappease it.

15 In the light of the king’s face is life,

And his favor is like a qcloud of the latter rain.

16 rHow much better to get wisdom than gold!

And to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.

17 The highway of the upright is to depart from evil;

He who keeps his way preserves his soul.

18 Pride goes before destruction,

And a haughty spirit before 6a fall.

19 Better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly,

Than to divide the 7spoil with the proud.

20 He who heeds the word wisely will find good,

And whoever strusts in the Lord, happy is he.

21 The wise in heart will be called prudent,

And sweetness of the lips increases learning.

22 Understanding is a wellspring of life to him who has it.

But the correction of fools is folly.

23 The heart of the wise teaches his mouth,

And adds learning to his lips.

24 Pleasant words are like a honeycomb,

Sweetness to the soul and health to the bones.

25 There is a way that seems right to a man,

But its end is the way of tdeath.

26 The person who labors, labors for himself,

For his hungry mouth drives uhim on.

27 8An ungodly man digs up evil,

And it is on his lips like a burning vfire.

28 A perverse man sows strife,

And wa whisperer separates the best of friends.

29 A violent man entices his neighbor,

And leads him in a way that is not good.

30 He winks his eye to devise perverse things;

He 9purses his lips and brings about evil.

31 xThe silver-haired head is a crown of glory,

If it is found in the way of righteousness.

32 yHe who is slow to anger is better than the mighty,

And he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.

33 The lot is cast into the lap,

But its every decision is from the Lord.