1The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD.16.1 preparations: or, disposings 2All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits. 3Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.16.3 Commit: Heb. Roll 4The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil. 5Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.16.5 unpunished: Heb. held innocent 6By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil. 7When a man’s ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him. 8Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right. 9A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps. 10A divine sentence is in the lips of the king: his mouth transgresseth not in judgment.16.10 A divine…: Heb. Divination 11A just weight and balance are the LORD’s: all the weights of the bag are his work.16.11 the weights: Heb. the stones 12It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is established by righteousness. 13Righteous lips are the delight of kings; and they love him that speaketh right.
14The wrath of a king is as messengers of death: but a wise man will pacify it. 15In the light of the king’s countenance is life; and his favour is as a cloud of the latter rain. 16How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver! 17The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul. 18Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. 19Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud. 20He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he.16.20 handleth…: or, understandeth a matter 21The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning. 22Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the instruction of fools is folly. 23The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips.16.23 teacheth: Heb. maketh wise 24Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones. 25There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. 26He that laboureth laboureth for himself; for his mouth craveth it of him.16.26 He…: Heb. The soul of him that16.26 craveth…: Heb. boweth unto him
27An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips there is as a burning fire.16.27 An…: Heb. A man of Belial 28A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.16.28 soweth: Heb. sendeth forth
29A violent man enticeth his neighbour, and leadeth him into the way that is not good. 30He shutteth his eyes to devise froward things: moving his lips he bringeth evil to pass. 31The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness. 32He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city. 33The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD.
1Vi mennesker har mange tanker i hovedet,
men Herren kan lægge os ord i munden.
2Vi kan mene, at vi er uskyldige,
men Herren kender de skjulte motiver.
3Søg Herrens hjælp i alt, hvad du gør,
så vil det lykkes for dig.
4Herren har en plan med alt,
og onde mennesker vil få deres straf.
5Herren afskyr de hovmodige,
også de vil få deres straf.
6Ubetinget kærlighed tilgiver synd,
gudsfrygt afværger meget ondt.
7Når mennesker lever ret for Gud,
lader Gud dem leve i fred for fjender.
8Bedre at være fattig og ærlig
end at være rig og uærlig.
9Et menneske kan udtænke gode planer,
men Herren afgør, hvad der sker med dem.
10En konge taler på Guds vegne,
så hans domme skal være retfærdige.
11Herren er med i forretningslivet,
så enhver handel skal være ærlig.
12En konge kan ikke tolerere forbrydelser,
for retfærdighed er grundlaget for hans magt.
13En konge glæder sig over ærlighed,
han sætter stor pris på at høre sandheden.
14En konges vrede er dødsens farlig,
men den kloge forstår at dæmpe den.
15Når kongen smiler, er der fremgang og fred,
hans velvilje fører til vækst som regn i såtiden.
16Bedre at vinde visdom end at grave efter guld,
hellere stræbe efter indsigt end lede efter sølv.
17Den retskafnes vej fører væk fra det onde,
ved at se sig godt for kan man redde livet.
18Hovmod står for fald,
den overmodige snubler let.
19Hellere være tilfreds med det lidt, man har,
end at dele rov med de rige og stolte.
20Den, der har indsigt, klarer sig godt,
velsignet er den, der sætter sin lid til Herren.
21Den vise kendes på sin sunde fornuft,
velvalgte ord bliver der lyttet til.
22God dømmekraft giver den kloge et godt liv,
men den tåbelige straffes for sin dumhed.
23De vise kommer med visdomsord,
derfor lytter man gerne til dem.
24Venlige ord er som honning,
en lise for sjælen og helse til kroppen.
25Mange mener, de følger den rette vej,
og dog ender den med død.
26Arbejderens sult er til gavn for ham,
for den hjælper ham til at arbejde hårdt.
27Ondskabsfulde slyngler skaber ulykker overalt,
deres ord hærger som en steppebrand.
28Folk, der er fulde af løgn, skaber altid splid,
sladder kan skille selv de bedste venner.
29En forbryder opflammer sine kammerater
og trækker dem med i kriminelle handlinger.
30Den, der blinker med øjet, har ondt i sinde,
sammenpressede læber tyder på skumle planer.
31Det er en ære at blive gammel,
for så har man levet et retskaffent liv.
32Det er bedre at være tålmodig end at være stærk,
lettere at indtage en by end at overvinde sig selv.
33Mennesker kaster lod for at finde Guds vilje,
men det er Herren, der bestemmer udfaldet.
