1 A person may arrange the plans of the heart, but the LORD {YHWH, Source of Wisdom} gives the reply of the tongue {lashon: organ of speech}.
2 Every path of a man looks clean to him, but the LORD {YHWH, Inner Evaluator} weighs the spirits {rukhot: inner motives}.
3 Entrust your works to the LORD {YHWH, Sovereign Guide}, and your plans {machshevoteikha: formulated intentions} will be made firm.
4 The LORD {YHWH, Sovereign Orchestrator} has made everything for His purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble {ra'ah: adversity, calamity}.
5 The LORD {YHWH, Moral Judge} treats every proud heart {lev: inner will} as detestable; though hands join together, he will not be cleared.
6 Through mercy and truth, iniquity is atoned for; and through the fear of the LORD {YHWH, Holy Judge}, one turns away from evil {ra: moral wrong}.
7 When the LORD {YHWH, Peace Giver} takes pleasure in a man’s ways, He brings even his enemies {oyev: adversary} into peace with him.
8 Better is a little with righteousness {tsedakah: blameless conduct} than abundant income without justice {mishpat: rightful judgment}.
9 The heart of a man plans his way, but the LORD {YHWH, Sovereign Guide} makes his steps {tza’ado: each movement} firm.
10 An oracle {qesem: authoritative declaration} is upon the king’s lips; in judgment his mouth does not transgress {yimʿal: act unfaithfully}.
11 Just scales and balanced measures are the LORD’s {YHWH, Righteous Standard}; every stone-weight in the bag is His work {maaseh: divine handiwork}.
12 Wickedness {resha: severe wrongdoing} is detestable to kings, for by righteousness the throne {kisse: royal seat of authority} is made secure.
13 Kings delight {retson: deep satisfaction} in righteous lips, and they love the one who speaks what is upright {yesharim: words of moral integrity}.
14 A king’s {melekh: royal sovereign} anger takes the form of messengers of death, but a wise man will appease it {yekhapprenah: quell anger}.
15 In the light of the king’s face {penei: royal countenance} there is life, and his favor is like a cloud of late rain {malkosh: late rain}.
16 How much better it is to acquire wisdom {chokhmah: skillful living} than gold, and to acquire understanding {binah: discernment} is preferred over silver.
17 The highway of the upright is to turn away from evil; he who guards his way {derekh: moral conduct} preserves his soul {nefesh: life essence}.
18 Pride {gaon: self-exaltation} comes before destruction, and a haughty spirit {ruach: inner disposition} comes before a fall.
19 Better to be lowly in spirit among the afflicted {aniyyim: socially marginalized} than to divide the spoil with the proud {geʾim: self-exalting}.
20 The one who acts prudently concerning a matter will find good, and whoever trusts in the LORD {YHWH, Faithful Guide}—blessed is he {ashrayav: deeply blessed}.
21 The wise in heart will be called discerning {navon: perceptive judgment}, and the sweetness of lips increases learning {lekakh: moral insight}.
22 Understanding is a fountain {mekor: figurative source} of life to its possessor, but the discipline of fools is folly {ivelet: senseless waste}.
23 The heart of the wise {khakham: skilled in practical wisdom} guides his mouth with prudence, and on his lips it adds learning {lekach: discernment}.
24 Words of pleasantness are like a honeycomb—sweet to the soul {nefesh: life essence} and healing to the bones {etzem: physical framework}.
25 There is a way {derek: course} that seems right before a man, but its end is the ways of death {mavet: cessation of life}.
26 The appetite {nefesh: inner hunger} of the laborer labors for him, because his mouth {pihu: urging mouth} presses him on.
27 A man of worthlessness {beli-yaal: utter wickedness} digs evil, and on his lips there is a scorching fire {tsarevet: consuming flame}.
28 A man of perversions {tahpukhot: moral distortion} sends out strife, and a whisperer separates close friends {alluf: intimate companion}.
29 A violent man {chamas: oppressive wrongdoing} entices his neighbor {reehu: close companion} and leads him in a path that is not good.
30 He who shuts his eyes to plan perversions {taphukhoth: twisted schemes}, purses his lips {koretz: presses tightly}, and brings evil to completion.
31 A crown of glory is gray hair {seivah: sign of dignity} when it is found in the way of righteousness {tsedaqah: covenant faithfulness}.
32 Better is one who is slow to anger than a mighty warrior, and one who rules his spirit {ruach: inner disposition} than one who captures a city {ir: fortified settlement}.
33 The lot {goral: casting of lots as an ancient method of discerning divine will} falls into the lap, yet its final verdict rests with the LORD {YHWH, Sovereign Arbiter}.