Man Plans, Yahweh Directs
1The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue comes from Yahweh. 2All a man’s ways are pure in his own eyes, but Yahweh weighs the spirit. 3Roll your works onto Yahweh, and your plans will hold. 4Yahweh has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of disaster. 5Every proud heart is an abomination to Yahweh; be sure of it, he will not go unpunished. 6By kindness and faithfulness guilt is covered over, and by the fear of Yahweh a man turns from evil. 7When a man’s ways please Yahweh, he makes even his enemies be at peace with him. 8Better a little with righteousness than a great harvest without justice. 9A man’s heart plans his way, but Yahweh makes his step secure.
The Throne and the Scales
10An oracle is on the lips of the king; his mouth must not betray justice. 11Scale and honest balances belong to Yahweh; all the weights in the bag are his work. 12Doing wickedness is an abomination to kings, for a throne is made firm by righteousness. 13Righteous lips are a king’s delight, and he loves the one who speaks what is right. 14A king’s fury is a messenger of death, but a wise man will appease it. 15In the light of a king’s face there is life, and his favor is like a cloud of spring rain. 16To get wisdom—how much better than gold! And to get understanding is chosen above silver. 17The highway of the upright turns away from evil; whoever guards his way keeps his life. 18Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. 19Better to be lowly in spirit with the humble than to divide spoil with the proud.
Words That Add Learning
20Whoever attends to a word will find good, and happy is the one who trusts in Yahweh. 21The wise in heart is called discerning, and sweetness of speech adds to learning. 22Good sense is a fountain of life to the one who has it, but the discipline of the senseless is folly. 23The heart of the wise makes his mouth wise and adds learning to his lips. 24Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. 25There is a way that looks right to a man, but it ends in the ways of death. 26A laborer’s appetite labors for him; his own hunger drives him on. 27A worthless man digs up evil, and on his lip there is a scorching fire. 28A perverse man sows strife, and a whisperer separates close friends. 29A violent man entices his neighbor and leads him down a way that is not good. 30He narrows his eyes to plot perversity; he purses his lips, and the evil is done. 31Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is found on the way of righteousness. 32Better to be slow to anger than a warrior, and to rule your own spirit than to capture a city. 33The lot is thrown into the lap, but every decision it gives is from Yahweh.
