16 The ^[a](A)plans of the heart belong to man,
But the answer of the tongue is from Yahweh.
² All the ways of a man are pure in his own sight,
But ^(B)Yahweh weighs the ^[b]motives.
^3 [c](C)Commit your works to Yahweh
And your ^[d]plans will be established.
⁴ Yahweh ^(D)has made everything for ^[e]its own purpose,
Even the ^(E)wicked for the day of evil.
⁵ Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to Yahweh;
Assuredly, he will not be unpunished.
⁶ By ^(F)lovingkindness and truth iniquity is atoned for,
And by the ^[f](G)fear of Yahweh one turns away from evil.
⁷ When a man’s ways are pleasing to Yahweh,
He ^(H)makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
⁸ Better is a little with righteousness
Than great produce with injustice.
⁹ The heart of ^(I)man ^[g]plans his way,
But ^(J)Yahweh ^[h]directs his steps.
¹⁰ A divine ^(K)decision is in the lips of the king;
His mouth should not ^[i]err in judgment.
¹¹ A ^(L)just balance and scales belong to Yahweh;
All the ^[j]weights of the bag are His ^[k]work.
¹² It is an abomination for kings to commit wickedness,
For in righteousness a ^(M)throne is established.
¹³ Righteous lips are the delight of kings,
And he who speaks uprightly is loved.
¹⁴ The wrath of a king is like messengers of death,
But a wise man will atone for it.
¹⁵ In the light of a king’s face is life,
And his favor is like a cloud with the ^[l](N)late rain.
¹⁶ How much ^(O)better it is to acquire wisdom than fine gold!
And to acquire understanding is to be chosen above silver.
¹⁷ The ^(P)highway of the upright is to turn away from evil;
He who guards his way keeps his ^[m]soul.
^18 (Q)Pride goes before destruction,
And a haughty spirit before stumbling.
¹⁹ It is better to be ^(R)humble in spirit with the lowly
Than to ^(S)divide the spoil with the proud.
²⁰ He who considers the word will ^(T)find good,
And how ^(U)blessed is he who trusts in Yahweh.
²¹ The ^(V)wise in heart will be called understanding,
And sweetness of ^[n]lips ^(W)increases learning.
²² Insight is a fountain of life to one who has it,
But the discipline of ignorant fools is ^[o]folly.
²³ The ^(X)heart of the wise gives insight to his mouth
And increases learning to his lips.
^24 (Y)Pleasant words are a honeycomb,
Sweet to the soul and ^(Z)healing to the bones.
^25 (AA)There is a way which seems right to a man,
But its end is the way of death.
²⁶ A worker’s appetite works for him,
For his mouth urges him on.
²⁷ A ^(AB)vile man digs up evil,
And the words on his lips are like ^(AC)scorching fire.
²⁸ A perverse man spreads strife,
And a whisperer separates close companions.
²⁹ A man of violence ^(AD)entices his neighbor
And leads him in a way that is not good.
³⁰ He who winks his eyes does so to devise perverse things;
He who compresses his lips brings evil to pass.
^31 (AE)Gray hair is a crown of beauty;
It ^(AF)is found in the way of righteousness.
³² He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty,
And he who rules his own spirit, than he who captures a city.
³³ The ^(AG)lot is cast into the lap,
But its every ^(AH)judgment is from Yahweh.