1 ARST People plan what they want{ to say}, but Yahweh determines how they will reply. BSB BSB: The plans of the heart belong to man, but the reply of the tongue is from the LORD.
2 ARST People think that everything they do is right, but Yahweh{ rightly} evaluates what they think. BSB BSB: All a man’s ways are pure in his own eyes, but his motives are weighed out by the LORD.
3 ARST Entrust what you do to Yahweh, and he will make what you plan{ to do} succeed. BSB BSB: Commit your works to the LORD and your plans will be achieved.
4 ARST When Yahweh made everything, he planned what would happen to each thing. He has even made wicked people for the time when he will punish them. BSB BSB: The LORD has made everything for His purpose—even the wicked for the day of disaster.
5 ARST Yahweh detests all proud people; he will certainly punish them. BSB BSB: Everyone who is proud in heart is detestable to the LORD; be assured that he will not go unpunished.
6 ARST People can atone for acting sinfully by being faithful and trustworthy. People who reverently fear Yahweh will avoid doing what is evil. BSB BSB: By loving devotion and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the LORD one turns aside from evil.
7 ARST When Yahweh likes what people do, he even causes their enemies to be peaceful with them. BSB BSB: When a man’s ways please the LORD, He makes even the man’s enemies live at peace with him.
8 ARST It is better{ for someone} to have a few things while being righteous, than{ for someone} to have a lot of crops while being unjust. BSB BSB: Better a little with righteousness than great gain with injustice.
9 ARST People plan what they want to do, but Yahweh determines what they will{ actually} do. BSB BSB: A man’s heart plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.
10 ARST { Ideally,} what kings say is from God,{ and} when kings judge, they surely speak justly. BSB BSB: A divine verdict is on the lips of a king; his mouth must not betray justice.
11 ARST Yahweh made weighing instruments{ for us} to use honestly. Indeed, he made all the stones people carry in bags to use for weighing things. BSB BSB: Honest scales and balances are from the LORD; all the weights in the bag are His concern.
12 ARST { Ideally,} kings detest people acting wickedly because acting righteously causes kings to rule securely. BSB BSB: Wicked behavior is detestable for kings, for a throne is established through righteousness.
13 ARST { Ideally,} kings enjoy when people speak righteously. Indeed, they love people who speak uprightly. BSB BSB: Righteous lips are a king’s delight, and he who speaks honestly is beloved.
14 ARST When kings are angry, they cause people to die, so wise people will appease them. BSB BSB: The wrath of a king is a messenger of death, but a wise man will pacify it.
15 ARST When kings are happy, they let people live; when they approve of people, it is as refreshing as rain in springtime. BSB BSB: When a king’s face brightens, there is life; his favor is like a rain cloud in spring.
16 ARST Becoming wise is better than having gold. Indeed, it is better to choose to become understanding than to have silver. BSB BSB: How much better to acquire wisdom than gold! To gain understanding is more desirable than silver.
17 ARST Upright people act in a way that avoids doing what is evil; people who want to stay alive are careful about what they do. BSB BSB: The highway of the upright leads away from evil; he who guards his way protects his life.
18 ARST If people are proud, then something will destroy them. Indeed, if people are arrogant, then something will ruin them. BSB BSB: Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
19 ARST It is better to live humbly among poor people than to{ live proudly and} receive some of what proud people have taken from others. BSB BSB: It is better to be lowly in spirit among the humble than to divide the spoil with the proud.
20 ARST People who act prudently in a matter will succeed, and people who trust in Yahweh are happy. BSB BSB: Whoever heeds instruction will find success, and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD.
21 ARST People will call those who think wisely,“understanding ones,” and pleasant things that people say cause others to learn. BSB BSB: The wise in heart are called discerning, and pleasant speech promotes instruction.
22 ARST Being insightful is{ like} a spring that enables insightful people to live for a long time, but being foolish results in other people punishing foolish people. BSB BSB: Understanding is a fountain of life to its possessor, but the discipline of fools is folly.
23 ARST What wise people think causes them to speak insightfully, and what those people say causes others to learn. BSB BSB: The heart of the wise man instructs his mouth and adds persuasiveness to his lips.
24 ARST The pleasing things that people say are{ like} a honeycomb: They cause people to feel pleasant and healthy. BSB BSB: Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.
25 ARST People think they know the right way to behave, but people who behave that way will ultimately die. BSB BSB: There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.
26 ARST Being hungry helps working people work because wanting to eat motivates people to keep on working. BSB BSB: A worker’s appetite works for him because his hunger drives him onward.
27 ARST Worthless people plot how to hurt others; the evil things they say harm others like fire burns{ people}. BSB BSB: A worthless man digs up evil, and his speech is like a scorching fire.
28 ARST Perverse people cause other people to argue with each other, and people who gossip about others cause friends to stop being friends. BSB BSB: A perverse man spreads dissension, and a gossip divides close friends.
29 ARST Violent people tempt people whom they know{ to sin}, and they guide them to behave wickedly. BSB BSB: A violent man entices his neighbor and leads him down a path that is not good.
30 ARST People who use their eyes to signal to others are planning to do something perverse; people who use their lips to signal to others are about to do the evil thing{ that they had planned to do}. BSB BSB: He who winks his eye devises perversity; he who purses his lips is bent on evil.
31 ARST Living for a long time is{ honorable, like} a magnificent crown{ on someone’ s head}; people are able to live for a long time by living righteously. BSB BSB: Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is attained along the path of righteousness.
32 ARST It is better to be someone who does not become angry quickly than to be powerful. It is better to control oneself than to be{ as powerful as} someone who conquers a city. BSB BSB: He who is slow to anger is better than a warrior, and he who controls his temper is greater than one who captures a city.
33 ARST People throw lots{ in order to decide what to do}, but Yahweh decides whatever happens. BSB BSB: The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.