Proverbs 16 (TFTU)
1 People plan what they want to do,but Yahweh is the one who decides [MTY] what really will happen. 2 People may think that their actions are right,but Yahweh really knows why people do what they do. 3 ◄Request/Rely on► Yahweh to direct what you plan to do; if you do that, you will succeed in what you plan. 4 Yahweh knows why he does everything that he does;he has even prepared the wicked for the time that he will punish them. 5 Yahweh hates/detests everyone who is proud [IDM];you can be certain [IDM] that they will be punished [LIT]. 6 Be loyal to Yahweh and faithfully obey him; if you do that, he will forgive you for having sinned.If we revere him, nothing evil will happen to us (OR, he will prevent evil things from happening to us). 7 When our behavior pleases Yahweh,he even causes our enemies to act peacefully toward us. 8 It is better to have a small amount of money that is earned honestlythan to have a lot of money that is acquired dishonestly. 9 People plan what they want to do,but Yahweh directs/determines what they will really be able to do. 10 If God directs what a king says,what he decides is always right/fair. 11 Yahweh wants us to use scales that are correct;the weights in his bag are correct, because he made them. 12 Kings detest those who do evil,because it is people doing what is fair/right that causes their governments to be [MTY] strong. 13 Kings are delighted to hear people say [MTY] what is true;they love those who say what is right/honest. 14 If a king becomes angry, he may command that someone be executed, so wise people will try to cause him to be calm. 15 If a king has a smile [MTY] on his face, he will enable people to have a long life (OR, he will not order people to be executed);his being pleased with people is as delightful as rain in the springtime when seeds are planted. 16 Becoming wise is better than aquiring gold;getting good understanding/insight is better than acquiring silver. 17 Those whose behavior [MET] is good/right turn away from doing evil;those who guard their conduct [MTY] protect their lives. 18 Being proud will ◄lead to your having/cause you to have► disasters;despising others will result in your being ruined. 19 It is better to be humble and poorthan to associate with proud people and to become rich by dividing with them ◄plunder/goods captured in a battle►. 20 Those who heed good teaching/instruction will prosper;happy are those who trust in Yahweh. 21 People say that those who are wise learn what is right/good behavior,and those who talk pleasantly are able to influence others to do what is right. 22 Being wise is like having a fountain that gives life [MET],but foolish people are punished as a result of their acting foolishly. 23 Those who are wise think carefully before they talk,and as a result they are able to influence/persuade others to do what is right. 24 Kind words are like honey [SIM]:We enjoy them both, and both cause our bodies to be healthy/strong. 25 There are some kinds of behavior [MET] that people think are right,but ◄walking on those roads [MET]/continually doing those things► causes those people to die. 26 If a worker ◄has an appetite/is hungry►, that urges him to work hardbecause he [SYN] wants to earn money to buy things to eat. 27 Worthless people plan ways to cause trouble for others,and even what they say injures people like a hot fire does [SIM]. 28 Deceitful people cause strife/quarreling among other people;those who say false things about other people cause people who are friends to become enemies. 29 Those who act violently entice/encourage others to also act violentlyand lead them along a road that will end in disaster. 30 People sometimes show with one of their eyes to signal to their friends that they are planning to do something to harm others;they smirk when they are about to do something evil. 31 Gray hair is like a glorious crown [MET]that is given to people who have always behaved righteously. 32 Those who do not become angry quickly are better than those who are powerful;it is better to ◄control your temper/keep yourself from becoming very angry► than to conquer a city. 33 People ◄cast lots/throw marked stones► to decide what should be done,but God is the one who truly decides what will happen.