Proverbs 16

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

1[Hominis est animam præparare, et Domini gubernare linguam.

2Omnes viæ hominis patent oculis ejus; spirituum ponderator est Dominus.

3Revela Domino opera tua, et dirigentur cogitationes tuæ.

4Universa propter semetipsum operatus est Dominus; impium quoque ad diem malum.

5Abominatio Domini est omnis arrogans; etiamsi manus ad manum fuerit, non est innocens. Initium viæ bonæ facere justitiam; accepta est autem apud Deum magis quam immolare hostias.

6Misericordia et veritate redimitur iniquitas, et in timore Domini declinatur a malo.

7Cum placuerint Domino viæ hominis, inimicos quoque ejus convertet ad pacem.

8Melius est parum cum justitia quam multi fructus cum iniquitate.

9Cor hominis disponit viam suam, sed Domini est dirigere gressus ejus.]

10[Divinatio in labiis regis; in judicio non errabit os ejus.

11Pondus et statera judicia Domini sunt, et opera ejus omnes lapides sacculi.

12Abominabiles regi qui agunt impie, quoniam justitia firmatur solium.

13Voluntas regum labia justa; qui recta loquitur diligetur.

14Indignatio regis nuntii mortis, et vir sapiens placabit eam.

15In hilaritate vultus regis vita, et clementia ejus quasi imber serotinus.]

16[Posside sapientiam, quia auro melior est, et acquire prudentiam, quia pretiosior est argento.

17Semita justorum declinat mala; custos animæ suæ servat viam suam.

18Contritionem præcedit superbia, et ante ruinam exaltatur spiritus.

19Melius est humiliari cum mitibus quam dividere spolia cum superbis.

20Eruditus in verbo reperiet bona, et qui sperat in Domino beatus est.

21Qui sapiens est corde appellabitur prudens, et qui dulcis eloquio majora percipiet.

22Fons vitæ eruditio possidentis; doctrina stultorum fatuitas.]

23[Cor sapientis erudiet os ejus, et labiis ejus addet gratiam.

24Favus mellis composita verba; dulcedo animæ sanitas ossium.

25Est via quæ videtur homini recta, et novissima ejus ducunt ad mortem.

26Anima laborantis laborat sibi, quia compulit eum os suum.

27Vir impius fodit malum, et in labiis ejus ignis ardescit.

28Homo perversus suscitat lites, et verbosus separat principes.

29Vir iniquus lactat amicum suum, et ducit eum per viam non bonam.

30Qui attonitis oculis cogitat prava, mordens labia sua perficit malum.

31Corona dignitatis senectus, quæ in viis justitiæ reperietur.

32Melior est patiens viro forti, et qui dominatur animo suo expugnatore urbium.

33Sortes mittuntur in sinum, sed a Domino temperantur.]

1It is for man to prepare the soul, and for the Lord to govern the tongue.

2All the ways of a man are open to his eyes; the Lord is the one who weighs spirits.

3Open your works to the Lord, and your intentions will be set in order.

4The Lord has wrought all things because of himself. Likewise the impious is for the evil day.

5All the arrogant are an abomination to the Lord. Even if hand will 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 immolate sacrifices.

6By mercy and truth, iniquity is redeemed. And by the fear of the Lord, one turns away from evil.

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

8Better is a little with justice, than many fruits with iniquity.

9The heart of man disposes his way. But it is for Lord to direct his steps.

10Foreknowledge is in the lips of the king. His mouth shall not err in judgment.

11Weights and scales are judgments of the Lord. And all the stones in the bag are his work.

12Those who act impiously are abominable to the king. For the throne is made firm by justice.

13Just lips are the will of kings. He who speaks honestly shall be loved.

14The indignation of a king is a herald of death. And the wise man will appease it.

15In the cheerfulness of the king’s countenance, there is life. And his clemency is like belated rain.

16Possess wisdom, for it is better than gold. And acquire prudence, for it is more precious than silver.

17The path of the just turns away from evils. He who guards his soul preserves his way.

18Arrogance precedes destruction. And the spirit is exalted before a fall.

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

20The learned in word shall find good things. And whoever hopes in the Lord is blessed.

21Whoever is wise in heart shall be called prudent. And whoever is sweet in eloquence shall attain to what is greater.

22Learning is a fountain of life to one who possesses it. The doctrine of the foolish is senseless.

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

24Careful words are a honeycomb: sweet to the soul and healthful to the bones.

25There is a way which seems right to a man, and its end result leads to death.

26The soul of the laborer labors for himself, because his mouth has driven him to it.

27The impious man digs up evil, and in his lips is a burning fire.

28A perverse man stirs up lawsuits. And one who is verbose divides leaders.

29A man of iniquity entices his friend, and he leads him along a way that is not good.

30Whoever, with astonished eyes, thinks up depravities, biting his lips, accomplishes evil.

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

32A patient man is better than a strong one. And whoever rules his soul is better than one who assaults cities.

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