1 To man belongs the preparations of the heart, But from יהוה is the answer of the tongue.
2 All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes, But יהוה weighs the spirits.
3 Commit your works to יהוה, And your plans shall be established.
4 יהוה has made all for His purpose, And also the wrong for the day of evil.
5 Everyone proud in heart is an abomination to יהוה; Hand to hand: he goes not unpunished.
6 By kindness and truth crookedness is pardoned. And in the fear of יהוה one turns away from evil.
7 When a man’s ways please יהוה, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
8 Better is a little with righteousness, Than a large income without right-ruling.
9 A man’s heart plans his way, But יהוה establishes his steps.
10 An oath is on the lips of the sovereign, In right-ruling his mouth trespasses not.
11 A right scale and balances are of יהוה; All the weights in the bag are His work.
12 It is an abomination for sovereigns To commit wrongness, For a throne is established by righteousness.
13 Righteous lips are the delight of sovereigns, And they love him who speaks what is straight.
14 The sovereign’s wrath is a messenger of death, But a wise man appeases it.
15 In the light of a sovereign’s face is life, And his delight is like a cloud of the latter rain.
16 How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is preferable to silver.
17 The highway of the straight Is to turn away from evil; He who guards his life watches over His way.
18 Before destruction comes pride, And before a fall a haughty spirit!
19 Better to be lowly in spirit with the poor, Than to divide the spoil with the proud.
20 He who acts wisely concerning the Word finds good, And blessed is he who trusts in יהוה.
21 The wise-hearted is called discerning, And sweetness of lips increases learning.
22 Understanding is a fountain of life to him who has it, But the disciplining of fools is folly.
23 The heart of the wise gives discretion to his mouth, And he increases learning to his lips.
24 Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, Sweet to the being, and healing to the bones.
25 There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.
26 He who labours, labours for himself, For his mouth drives him on.
27 A man of Beliya‛al plots evil, And on his lips it is like a burning fire.
28 A perverse man sends forth strife, And a whisperer separates intimate friends.
29 A ruthless man entices his neighbour, And leads him in a way that is not good,
30 Winking with his eye to plot perversity, Moving his lips he shall bring about evil.
31 Grey hair is a crown of adorning, It is found in the way of righteousness.
32 He who is patient is better than the mighty, And he who rules over his spirit than he who takes a city.
33 The lot is cast into the lap, But every decision by it is from יהוה.