16 To earthling man* belong the arrangings of the heart,+ but from Jehovah is the answer of the tongue.+

² All the ways of a man* are pure in his own eyes,+ but Jehovah is making an estimate of spirits.+

³ Roll your works upon Jehovah himself+ and your plans will be firmly established.+

⁴ Everything Jehovah has made for his purpose,+ yes, even the wicked one for the evil day.+

⁵ Everyone that is proud in heart is something detestable to Jehovah.+ Hand [may join] to hand, [yet] one will not be free from punishment.+

⁶ By loving-kindness* and trueness error is atoned for,+ and in the fear of Jehovah one turns away from bad.+

⁷ When Jehovah takes pleasure in the ways of a man+ he causes even his enemies themselves to be at peace with him.+

⁸ Better is a little with righteousness+ than an abundance of products without justice.*+

⁹ The heart of earthling man may think out his way,+ but Jehovah himself does the directing of his steps.+

¹⁰ Inspired decision should be upon the lips of a king;+ in judgment his mouth should not prove unfaithful.+

¹¹ The just indicator and scales belong to Jehovah;+ all the stone weights of the bag are his work.+

¹² The doing of wickedness is something detestable to kings,+ for by righteousness is the throne firmly established.+

¹³ The lips of righteousness are a pleasure to a grand king;*+ and the speaker of upright things he loves.+

¹⁴ The rage of a king means messengers of death,+ but the wise man is one that averts it.*+

¹⁵ In the light of the king’s face there is life,+ and his goodwill is like the cloud of spring rain.+

¹⁶ The getting of wisdom is O how much better than gold!+ And the getting of understanding is to be chosen more than silver.+

¹⁷ The highway of the upright ones is to turn away from bad.+ One who is safeguarding his way is keeping his soul.+

¹⁸ Pride is before a crash,+ and a haughty spirit* before stumbling.+

¹⁹ Better is it to be lowly in spirit* with the meek ones*+ than to divide spoil with the self-exalted ones.+

²⁰ He that is showing insight in a matter will find good,+ and happy is he that is trusting in Jehovah.+

²¹ The one that is wise in heart will be called understanding,+ and he that is sweet in [his] lips adds persuasiveness.+

²² To its owners insight is a well of life;+ and the discipline of the foolish ones is foolishness.+

²³ The heart of the wise one causes his mouth to show insight,+ and to his lips it adds persuasiveness.+

²⁴ Pleasant sayings are a honeycomb,+ sweet to the soul and a healing to the bones.+

²⁵ There exists a way that is upright before a man,+ but the ways of death are the end of it afterward.+

²⁶ The soul* of the hard worker has worked hard for him,+ because his mouth has pressed him hard.+

²⁷ A good-for-nothing man* is digging up what is bad,+ and upon his lips there is, as it were, a scorching fire.+

²⁸ A man of intrigues keeps sending forth contention,+ and a slanderer is separating those familiar with one another.+

²⁹ A man of violence will seduce his fellow,+ and certainly causes him to go in a way that is not good.+ ³⁰ He is blinking with his eyes to scheme up intrigues.+ Pinching his lips together, he certainly brings mischief to completion.

³¹ Gray-headedness is a crown of beauty+ when it is found in the way of righteousness.+

³² He that is slow to anger is better than a mighty man,+ and he that is controlling his spirit than the one capturing a city.+

³³ Into the lap the lot is cast down,+ but every decision by it is from Jehovah.+