16 A person is responsible to prepare his heart,
    but how the tongue speaks is from Adonai.

² All a man’s ways are pure in his own view,
    but Adonai weighs the spirit.

³ If you entrust all you do to Adonai,
    your plans will achieve success.

⁴ Adonai made everything for its purpose,
    even the wicked for the day of disaster.

⁵ Adonai detests all those with proud hearts;
    be assured that they will not go unpunished.

⁶ Grace and truth atone for iniquity,
    and people turn from evil through fear of Adonai.

⁷ When a man’s ways please Adonai,
    he makes even the man’s enemies be at peace with him.

⁸ Better a little with righteousness
    than a huge income with injustice.

⁹ A person may plan his path,
    but Adonai directs his steps.

¹⁰ Divine inspiration is on the lips of the king,
    so his mouth must be faithful when he judges.
¹¹ The balance and scales of justice have their origin in Adonai;
    all the weights in the bag are his doing.
¹² It is an abomination for a king to do evil,
    for the throne is made secure by righteousness.
¹³ The king should delight in righteous lips,
    and he should love someone who speaks what is right.
¹⁴ The king’s anger is a herald of death,
    and one who is wise will appease it.
¹⁵ When the king’s face brightens, it means life;
    his favor is like the clouds that bring spring rain.

¹⁶ How much better than gold it is to gain wisdom!
    Yes, rather than money, choose to gain understanding.

¹⁷ Avoiding evil is the highway of the upright;
    he who watches his step preserves his life.

¹⁸ Pride goes before destruction,
    and arrogance before failure.

¹⁹ Better to be humble among the poor
    than share the spoil with the proud.

²⁰ He who has skill in a matter will succeed;
    he who trusts in Adonai will be happy.

²¹ A wise-hearted person is said to have discernment,
    and sweetness of speech adds to learning.

²² Common sense is a fountain of life to one who has it,
    whereas fools are punished by their own folly.

²³ The wise man’s heart teaches his mouth,
    and to his lips it adds learning.
²⁴ Pleasant words are like a honeycomb,
    sweet to the taste and healing for the body.

²⁵ There can be a way which seems right to a person,
    but at its end are the ways of death.

²⁶ A working man’s appetite acts on his behalf,
    because his hunger presses him on.

²⁷ A worthless person digs up evil [gossip] —
    it is like scorching fire on his lips.
²⁸ A deceitful person stirs up strife,
    and a slanderer can separate even close friends.

²⁹ A violent man lures his neighbor astray
    and leads him into evil ways.
³⁰ One who winks knowingly is planning deceit;
    one who pinches his lips together has already done wrong.

³¹ White hair is a crown of honor
    obtained by righteous living.

³² He who controls his temper is better than a war hero,
    he who rules his spirit better than he who captures a city.

³³ One can cast lots into one’s lap,
    but the decision comes from Adonai.