Proverbs 16

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 A human heart makes the plans, Yahweh gives the answer.	1 Man may make plans in his heart, but what the tongue utters is from the LORD.
2 A person's own acts seem right to the doer, but Yahweh is the weigher of souls.	2 All the ways of a man may be pure in his own eyes, but it is the LORD who proves the spirit.
3 Commend what you do to Yahweh, and what you plan wil be achieved.	3 Entrust your works to the LORD, and your plans will succeed.
4 Yahweh made everything for its own purpose, yes, even the wicked for the day of disaster.	4 The LORD has made everything for his own ends, even the wicked for the evil day.
5 Every arrogant heart is abhorrent to Yahweh: be sure this wil not go unpunished.	5 Every proud man is an abomination to the LORD; I assure you that he will not go unpunished.
6 By faithful love and constancy sin is expiated; by fear of Yahweh evil is avoided.	6 By kindness and piety guilt is expiated, and by the fear of the LORD man avoids evil.
7 Let Yahweh be pleased with someone's way of life and he makes that person's very enemies intofriends.	7 When the LORD is pleased with a man's ways, he makes even his enemies be at peace with him.
8 Better have little and with it uprightness than great revenues with injustice.	8 Better a little with virtue, than a large income with injustice.
9 The human heart may plan a course, but it is Yahweh who makes the steps secure.	9 In his mind a man plans his course, but the LORD directs his steps.
10 The lips of the king utter prophecies, he keeps faith when he speaks in judgement.	10 The king's lips are an oracle; no judgment he pronounces is false.
11 The balances and scales belong to Yahweh, al the weights in the bag are of his making.	11 Balance and scales belong to the LORD; all the weights used with them are his concern.
12 Evil-doing is abhorrent to kings, since uprightness is a throne's foundation.	12 Kings have a horror of wrongdoing, for by righteousness the throne endures.
13 Upright lips are welcome to a king, he loves someone of honest words.	13 The king takes delight in honest lips, and the man who speaks what is right he loves.
14 The king's wrath is the herald of death, but the wise will appease it.	14 The king's wrath is like messengers of death, but a wise man can pacify it.
15 When the king's face brightens it spel s life, his favour is like the rain in spring.	15 In the light of the king's countenance is life, and his favor is like a rain cloud in spring.
16 Better gain wisdom than gold, choose understanding in preference to silver.	16 How much better to acquire wisdom than gold! To acquire understanding is more desirable than silver.
17 To turn from evil is the way of the honest; whoever watches the path keeps life safe.	17 The path of the upright avoids misfortune; he who pays attention to his way safeguards his life.
18 Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fal .	18 Pride goes before disaster, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
19 Better be humble with the poor than share the booty with the proud.	19 It is better to be humble with the meek than to share plunder with the proud.
20 Whoever listens closely to the word finds happiness; whoever trusts Yahweh is blessed.	20 He who plans a thing will be successful; happy is he who trusts in the LORD!
21 The wise of heart is acclaimed as intel igent, sweetness of speech increases knowledge.	21 The wise man is esteemed for his discernment, yet pleasing speech increases his persuasiveness.
22 Shrewdness is a fountain of life for its possessor, the fol y of fools is their own punishment.	22 Good sense is a fountain of life to its possessor, but folly brings chastisement on fools.
23 The heart of the wise lends shrewdness to speech and makes words more persuasive.	23 The mind of the wise man makes him eloquent, and augments the persuasiveness of his lips.
24 Kindly words are a honeycomb, sweet to the taste, wholesome to the body.	24 Pleasing words are a honeycomb, sweet to the taste and healthful to the body.
25 There is a way that some think straight, but it leads in the end to death.	25 Sometimes a way seems right to a man, but the end of it leads to death!
26 A worker's appetite works on his behalf, for his hunger urges him on.	26 The laborer's appetite labors for him, for his mouth urges him on.
27 A worthless person concocts evil, such a one's talk is like a scorching fire.	27 A scoundrel is a furnace of evil, and on his lips there is a scorching fire.
28 A troublemaker sows strife, a slanderer divides friend from friend.	28 An intriguer sows discord, and a talebearer separates bosom friends.
29 The violent lures his neighbour astray and leads him by a way that is not good.	29 A lawless man allures his neighbor, and leads him into a way that is not good.
30 Whoever narrows the eyes to think up tricks and purses the lips has already done wrong.	30 He who winks his eye is plotting trickery; he who compresses his lips has mischief ready.
31 White hairs are a crown of honour, they are found in the ways of uprightness.	31 Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained by virtuous living.
32 Better an equable person than a hero, someone with self-mastery than one who takes a city.	32 A patient man is better than a warrior, and he who rules his temper, than he who takes a city.
33 In the fold of the garment the lot is thrown, but from Yahweh comes the decision.	33 When the lot is cast into the lap, its decision depends entirely on the LORD.