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16:1  People may make plans in their ·minds [hearts], but ·only the Lord can make them come true [L from the Lord comes a responding tongue].
16:2  ·You may believe you are doing right [L All paths of people are pure in their eyes], but the Lord will ·judge your reasons [measure your motives; L weigh the spirits].
16:3  ·Depend on the Lord in whatever you do [Commit your acts/deeds to the Lord], and your plans will ·succeed [be established].
16:4  The Lord makes everything ·go as he pleases [for a purpose]. He has even prepared a day of ·disaster [evil; harm; trouble] for evil people.
16:5  The Lord ·hates [detests] those who are proud. They will surely be punished.
16:6  ·Love [Loyalty] and ·truth [faithfulness] bring ·forgiveness of sin [atonement for guilt]. By ·respecting [fearing] the Lord you will avoid evil.
16:7  When ·people live so that they please the Lord [L people’s paths draw the Lord’s favor] even their enemies will make peace with them.
16:8  It is better to ·be poor [have little] and ·right [righteousness] than ·to be wealthy [much gain] and ·dishonest [injustice].
16:9  ·People may make plans in their minds [L Human hearts plan their path], but the Lord ·decides what they will do [L establishes their step].
16:10  The words of a king are like a ·message from God [oracle], so ·his decisions should be fair [L he should not betray justice with his mouth].
16:11  The Lord wants honest balances and scales; ·all the weights are his work [L he concerns himself with the weights in the pouch].
16:12  Kings ·hate [detest] those who do wrong, because ·governments only continue if they are fair [L in righteousness the throne is established].
16:13  Kings ·like [favor] ·honest people [L righteous lips]; they ·value [love] ·someone who speaks the truth [L those who speak with integrity].
16:14  An angry king ·can put someone to [L is a messenger of] death, so a wise person will ·try to make him happy [appease/calm him].
16:15  ·A smiling king can give people [L In the light of the face of the king there is] life; his ·kindness [favor] is like a ·spring shower [L cloud that brings late rain].
16:16  It is better to get wisdom than gold, and to choose understanding rather than silver!
16:17  ·Good people stay [L The highway of those with integrity turns] away from evil. By ·watching what they do [protecting their path], they ·protect [guard] their lives.
16:18  Pride ·leads to destruction [comes before a disaster]; ·a proud attitude brings ruin [T pride comes before a fall].
16:19  It is better to be humble and ·be with those who suffer [with the needy] than ·to share stolen property [dividing plunder/spoil] with the proud.
16:20  Whoever ·listens to what is taught [has insight] will ·succeed [prosper], and whoever trusts the Lord will be ·happy [blessed].
16:21  The wise of heart ·are known for their [L will be called] understanding. Their ·pleasant [sweet] words ·make them better teachers [enhance their teaching].
16:22  ·Understanding is like a fountain which gives life to those who use it [L One who possesses insight is a fountain of life], but ·foolishness brings punishment to fools [or the instruction of foolish people is folly].
16:23  Wise people’s ·minds [hearts] ·tell them what to say [L provide insight to their mouth], and that ·helps them be better teachers [enhances their teaching].
16:24  Pleasant words are like ·a honeycomb [liquid honey], ·making people happy and healthy [L sweet to the taste and healing to the bones].
16:25  ·Some people think they are doing right [L There is a path that is straight before a person/T seems right to a man], but in the end it ·leads [L is the path] to death.
16:26  The workers’ hunger ·helps [L works for] them, ·because their desire to eat makes them work [L and their mouths press/urge them on].
16:27  ·Useless [Worthless] people ·make evil plans [L dig up evil], and their ·words [L lips] are like a burning fire.
16:28  A ·useless [perverse] person causes ·trouble [conflicts], and a gossip ruins close friendships.
16:29  ·Cruel [Violent] people ·trick [entice] their neighbors and ·lead them to do wrong [L make them walk on a path that is not good].
16:30  Someone who winks their eye is planning ·evil [perverse things], and the one who ·grins [L purses/narrows their lips] is ·planning something wrong [concealing evil].
16:31  Gray hair is like a crown of honor; it is ·earned by living a good life [L found on the path of righteousness].
16:32  Patience is better than strength [or A patient person is better than a warrior]. Controlling your temper is better than capturing a city.
16:33  People throw lots ·to make a decision [L into the lap], but the ·answer [decision] comes from the Lord.