Proverbs 16:4-30

⁴The Lord wrought all things for himself; and he made ready a wicked man to the evil day. (The Lord made everything for its own purpose; and he made the wicked for the day of evil.)

⁵Abomination of the Lord is each proud man (or Each proud person is an abomination to the Lord); yea, though the hand is to the hand, he shall not be innocent. The beginning of the good way is to do rightwiseness; forsooth it is more acceptable with God, than to offer sacrifices.

⁶Wickedness is again-bought by mercy and truth; and men boweth away from evil by the dread of the Lord. (Wickedness is redeemed by love and faithfulness; and people can turn away from evil by the fear of the Lord or through reverence for the Lord.)

⁷When the ways of (a) man please the Lord, he shall convert, yea, his enemies to peace.

⁸Better is a little with rightfulness, than many fruits with wickedness.

⁹The heart of a man shall dispose his way; but it pertaineth to the Lord to (ad)dress his steps. (A person’s heart shall ordain his way; but it pertaineth to the Lord to direct his steps.)

¹⁰Divining is in the lips of a king; his mouth shall not err in doom. (The king speaketh with divine authority; his mouth shall not err in any judgement.)

¹¹The dooms of the Lord be weight and balance; and his works be all the stones of the world. (The Lord’s justice be equal weights and an honest balance; yea, each of the stones in the worldis his own work.)

¹²They that do wickedly be abominable to the king; for the throne of the realm is made steadfast by rightfulness.

¹³The will of kings is just lips; he that speaketh rightful things, shall be (ad)dressed. (The desire of kings is just, or truthful, words; he who speaketh upright things shall be favoured.)

¹⁴The Indignation of the king is (like) messengers of death; and a wise man shall please him (or but a wise person shall please him).

¹⁵Life is in gladness of the king’s cheer; and his mercy is as rain coming late. (Life (is) in the gladness of the king’s face; and his mercy (is) like the rain that cometh late.)

¹⁶Wield thou wisdom, for it is better than gold; and get thou prudence, for it is preciouser than silver. (Possess thou wisdom, for it is better than gold; and get thou prudence, for it is more precious than silver.)

¹⁷The path of just men boweth away (from) evils (or The path of the righteous turneth away from evil); the keeper of his soul keepeth his way (safe).

¹⁸Pride goeth before sorrow; and the spirit shall be enhanced before falling (or and the spirit shall be raised up before a fall).

¹⁹It is better to be made meek with mild men, than to part spoils with proud men. (It is better to be made poor with the humble, than to part spoils with the proud.)

²⁰A learned man in word shall find goods (or A person learned in understanding shall obtain good things); and he that hopeth in the Lord is blessed.

²¹He that is wise in heart, shall be called prudent; and he that is sweet in speech, shall find greater things. (He who is wise in heart, shall be called prudent; and he who useth sweet, or pleasant, speech, shall increase his knowledge or shall help others to learn.)

²²The well of life is the learning of him that wieldeth (it); the teaching of fools is folly.

²³The heart of a wise man shall teach his mouth; and shall increase grace to his lips. (The heart of a wise person shall teach his mouth; and his lips shall bring an increase of favour.)

²⁴Words well-set together is a comb of honey; health of bones is the sweetness of soul. (Kind words be like a honeycomb; sweet to the soul, and health for the bones.)

²⁵A way there is that seemeth rightful to a man (or There is a way that seemeth right to someone); and the last things thereof lead to death.

²⁶The soul of a man travailing travaileth to himself; for his mouth compelled him. (A person labouring laboureth for himself; for his hunger compelled him.)

²⁷An unwise man diggeth evil; and fire burneth in his lips. (The unwise person diggeth up evil; and fire burneth on his lips.)

²⁸A wayward man raiseth strives; and a man full of words separateth princes. (A wayward person raiseth up strife, or arguments; and a person full of words separateth leaders.)

²⁹A wicked man flattereth his friend; and leadeth him by a way not good.

³⁰He that thinketh shrewd things with eyes astonied, biteth his lips, and performeth evil. (With astonished eyes, he thinketh depraved things, and biteth his lips, and performeth evil.)