Man's heart makes the plans,
Yahweh, however, weighs the motives.
Command what you do to Yahweh,
and your plans will find achievment.
Yahweh made everything for its own purpose,
yes, even the wicked for the day of disaster.
The arrogant heart is abhorrent to Yahweh,
be sure it will not go unpunished.
Be kindliness and loyalty atonement is made for sin;
with the fear of Yahweh goes avoidance of evil.
Let Yahweh be pleased with a man's way of life
and he makes his very enemies into friends.
Better have little and with it virtue,
than great revenues and no right to them.
A man's heart plans out his way
but it is Yahweh who makes his steps secure.
The lips of the King utter oracles,
he does not err when he speaks in judgement.
To Yahweh belong the balance and scales,
all the weights in the bag are of his making.
Evil-doing in abhorrent to kings,
since virtue is the throne's foundation.
Virtuous lips are welcome to a king,
he loves a man of honest words.
The king's wrath is the herald of death,
but a wise man will appease it.
When the king's face brightens it spells life,
his favour is like the rain in spring.
Better gain wisdom than gold,
choose discernment rather than silver.
To turn from evil is the way of honest men;
he keeps his life safe who watches where he goes.
Pride goes before destruction,
a haughty spirit before a fall.
Better be humble among the lowly
than share the booty with the proud.
He who listens closely to the word shall find happiness;
he who puts his strust in Yahweh is blessed.
He whose heart is wide is proclaimed discerning;
sweetness of speech makes words the more persusasive.
Shrewdness is a fountain of life for its possessor,
the folly of fools is theirn own punishment.
The wise man's heart lends shrewdness to his mouth
and makes his words more persuasive.
Kindly words are a honeycomb,
sweet to the taste, wholesome to the body.
There is a way thta some think right,
but it leads in the end to death.
A worker's appetite works on his behalf,
his hungry mouth drives him on.
A scoundrel digs deep for mischief-making,
on his lips is a fire that scorches.
A troublemaker sows strife,
a talebearer divides friend from friend.
A violent man lures his neighbour astray
and leads him by a way that is not good.
He who closes his eyes meditates mischief;
he who purses his lips has already done wrong.
White hairs are a crown of honour,
they are found in the paths of virtue.
Better an equable man than a hero,
a man master of himself than one who takes a city.
On the breast the lot is drawn (the ephod)
from Yahweh the decision comes.
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