The Reply of the Tongue Is from Yahweh

1  לְאָדָ֥ם (Are unto man) מַֽעַרְכֵי־ (the plans) לֵ֑ב (of the heart),

וּ֝מֵיְהוָ֗ה (and from YHWH) מַעֲנֵ֥ה (is the answer) לָשֽׁוֹן׃ (of the tongue).

2  כָּֽל־ (All) דַּרְכֵי־ (the ways) אִ֭ישׁ (of a man) זַ֣ךְ (are pure) בְּעֵינָ֑יו (in his own eyes),

וְתֹכֵ֖ן (and weighs out) רוּח֣וֹת (the spirit) יְהוָֽה׃ (YHWH).

3  גֹּ֣ל (Roll) אֶל־ (toward) יְהוָ֣ה (YHWH) מַעֲשֶׂ֑יךָ (your works),

וְ֝יִכֹּ֗נוּ (and will be established) מַחְשְׁבֹתֶֽיךָ׃ (your plans).

4  כֹּ֤ל (Every thing) פָּעַ֣ל (has made) יְ֭הוָה (YHWH) לַֽמַּעֲנֵ֑הוּ (for its own end)—

וְגַם־ (even) רָ֝שָׁ֗ע (the wicked) לְי֣וֹם (for the day) רָעָֽה׃ (of evil).

5  תּוֹעֲבַ֣ת (An abomination) יְ֭הוָה (to YHWH) כָּל־ (is everyone) גְּבַהּ־ (high) לֵ֑ב (of heart);

יָ֥ד (hand) לְ֝יָ֗ד (to hand) לֹ֣א (not) יִנָּקֶֽה׃ (will be acquitted).

6  בְּחֶ֣סֶד (By loving devotion) וֶ֭אֱמֶת (and faithfulness) יְכֻפַּ֣ר (is atoned for) עָוֺ֑ן (iniquity),

וּבְיִרְאַ֥ת (and by the fear) יְ֝הוָ֗ה (of YHWH) ס֣וּר (one turns aside) מֵרָֽע׃ (from evil).

7  בִּרְצ֣וֹת (When please) יְ֭הוָה (YHWH) דַּרְכֵי־ (the ways) אִ֑ישׁ (of a man)

גַּם־ (even) א֝וֹיְבָ֗יו (his enemies) יַשְׁלִ֥ם (He makes to be at peace) אִתּֽוֹ׃ (with him).

8  טוֹב־ (Better is) מְ֭עַט (a little) בִּצְדָקָ֑ה (with righteousness)

מֵרֹ֥ב (than an abundance) תְּ֝בוּא֗וֹת (of increase) בְּלֹ֣א (without) מִשְׁפָּֽט׃ (justice).

9  לֵ֣ב (The heart) אָ֭דָם (of man) יְחַשֵּׁ֣ב (plans) דַּרְכּ֑וֹ (his way),

וַֽ֝יהוָ֗ה (and YHWH) יָכִ֥ין (establishes) צַעֲדֽוֹ׃ (his step).

10  קֶ֤סֶם׀ (Divination is) עַֽל־ (on) שִׂפְתֵי־ (the lips) מֶ֑לֶךְ (of the king);

בְּ֝מִשְׁפָּ֗ט (in judgment) לֹ֣א (not) יִמְעַל־ (shall be unfaithful) פִּֽיו׃ (his mouth).

11  פֶּ֤לֶס׀ (A balance) וּמֹאזְנֵ֣י (and scales) מִ֭שְׁפָּט (of justice) לַֽיהוָ֑ה (are unto YHWH);

מַ֝עֲשֵׂ֗הוּ (His work) כָּל־ (are all) אַבְנֵי־ (the stones) כִֽיס׃ (of the bag).

12  תּוֹעֲבַ֣ת (An abomination) מְ֭לָכִים (to kings) עֲשׂ֣וֹת (is to commit) רֶ֑שַׁע (wickedness);

כִּ֥י (for) בִ֝צְדָקָ֗ה (by righteousness) יִכּ֥וֹן (is established) כִּסֵּֽא׃ (a throne).

13  רְצ֣וֹן (The delight) מְ֭לָכִים (of kings) שִׂפְתֵי־ (are lips) צֶ֑דֶק (of righteousness),

וְדֹבֵ֖ר (and one speaking) יְשָׁרִ֣ים (uprightly) יֶאֱהָֽב׃ (he loves).

14  חֲמַת־ (The wrath) מֶ֥לֶךְ (of a king) מַלְאֲכֵי־ (is as messengers) מָ֑וֶת (of death),

וְאִ֖ישׁ (and a man) חָכָ֣ם (wise) יְכַפְּרֶֽנָּה׃ (will appease it).

15  בְּאוֹר־ (In the light) פְּנֵי־ (of the face) מֶ֥לֶךְ (of a king) חַיִּ֑ים (is life),

וּ֝רְצוֹנ֗וֹ (and his favor) כְּעָ֣ב (is like a cloud) מַלְקֽוֹשׁ׃ (of spring rain).

16  קְֽנֹה־ (To acquire) חָכְמָ֗ה (wisdom)— מַה־ (how much) טּ֥וֹב (better) מֵחָר֑וּץ (than gold)!

וּקְנ֥וֹת (And to acquire) בִּ֝ינָ֗ה (understanding) נִבְחָ֥ר (is to be chosen) מִכָּֽסֶף׃ (above silver).

17  מְסִלַּ֣ת (The highway) יְ֭שָׁרִים (of the upright ones) ס֣וּר (turns aside) מֵרָ֑ע (from evil);

שֹׁמֵ֥ר (one guarding) נַ֝פְשׁ֗וֹ (his soul) נֹצֵ֥ר (watches over) דַּרְכּֽוֹ׃ (his way).

18  לִפְנֵי־ (Before the face) שֶׁ֥בֶר (of breaking) גָּא֑וֹן (is pride),

וְלִפְנֵ֥י (and before) כִ֝שָּׁל֗וֹן (a fall) גֹּ֣בַהּ (is a haughty) רֽוּחַ׃ (spirit).

19  ט֣וֹב (Better) שְׁפַל־ (to be lowly) ר֭וּחַ (spirit) אֶת־ (among) עֲנִיִּים (the poor)

מֵֽחַלֵּ֥ק (than to divide) שָׁ֝לָ֗ל (plunder) אֶת־ (with) גֵּאִֽים׃ (proud ones).

20  מַשְׂכִּ֣יל (One acting wisely) עַל־ (concerning) דָּ֭בָר (a matter) יִמְצָא־ (will find) ט֑וֹב (good),

וּבוֹטֵ֖חַ (and one trusting) בַּיהוָ֣ה (in YHWH) אַשְׁרָֽיו׃ (is blessed).

21  לַחֲכַם־ (The one wise) לֵ֭ב (of heart) יִקָּרֵ֣א (is called) נָב֑וֹן (discerning),

וּמֶ֥תֶק (and sweetness) שְׂ֝פָתַ֗יִם (of lips) יֹסִ֥יף (increases) לֶֽקַח׃ (learning).

22  מְק֣וֹר (A fountain) חַ֭יִּים (of life) שֵׂ֣כֶל (is understanding) בְּעָלָ֑יו (to its masters),

וּמוּסַ֖ר (and the discipline) אֱוִלִ֣ים (of fools) אִוֶּֽלֶת׃ (is folly).

23  לֵ֣ב (The heart) חָ֭כָם (of the wise) יַשְׂכִּ֣יל (causes to act wisely) פִּ֑יהוּ (his mouth),

וְעַל־ (and upon) שְׂ֝פָתָ֗יו (his lips) יֹסִ֥יף (he increases) לֶֽקַח׃ (learning).

24  צוּף־ (A comb) דְּ֭בַשׁ (of honey) אִמְרֵי־ (are words) נֹ֑עַם (of pleasantness)—

מָת֥וֹק (sweet) לַ֝נֶּפֶשׁ (to the soul) וּמַרְפֵּ֥א (and healing) לָעָֽצֶם׃ (to the bone).

25  יֵ֤שׁ (There is) דֶּ֣רֶךְ (a way) יָ֭שָׁר (right) לִפְנֵי־ (before the face) אִ֑ישׁ (of a man),

וְ֝אַחֲרִיתָ֗הּ (and its end)— דַּרְכֵי־ (is the way) מָֽוֶת׃ (of death).

26  נֶ֣פֶשׁ (The soul) עָ֭מֵל (of the laborer) עָ֣מְלָה (labors) לּ֑וֹ (for himself),

כִּֽי־ (because) אָכַ֖ף (presses) עָלָ֣יו (him onward) פִּֽיהוּ׃ (his mouth).

27  אִ֣ישׁ (A man) בְּ֭לִיַּעַל (of worthlessness) כֹּרֶ֣ה (digs up) רָעָ֑ה (evil),

וְעַל־ (and upon) שְׂפָתָיו (his lips) כְּאֵ֣שׁ (there is like a fire) צָרָֽבֶת׃ (burning).

28  אִ֣ישׁ (A man) תַּ֭הְפֻּכוֹת (of perversity) יְשַׁלַּ֣ח (sends out) מָד֑וֹן (strife),

וְ֝נִרְגָּ֗ן (and a murmurer) מַפְרִ֥יד (is separating) אַלּֽוּף׃ (a close friend).

29  אִ֣ישׁ (A man) חָ֭מָס (of violence) יְפַתֶּ֣ה (entices) רֵעֵ֑הוּ (his neighbor)

וְ֝הוֹלִיכ֗וֹ (and leads him) בְּדֶ֣רֶךְ (in a way) לֹא־ (that is not) טֽוֹב׃ (good).

30  עֹצֶ֣ה (Winking) עֵ֭ינָיו (his eyes) לַחְשֹׁ֣ב (to devise) תַּהְפֻּכ֑וֹת (perversity);

קֹרֵ֥ץ (pursing) שְׂ֝פָתָ֗יו (his lips) כִּלָּ֥ה (he has accomplished) רָעָֽה׃ (evil).

31  עֲטֶ֣רֶת (A crown) תִּפְאֶ֣רֶת (of glory) שֵׂיבָ֑ה (is grey hair);

בְּדֶ֥רֶךְ (along the path) צְ֝דָקָ֗ה (of righteousness) תִּמָּצֵֽא׃ (it is found).

32  ט֤וֹב (Better is) אֶ֣רֶךְ (one slow) אַ֭פַּיִם (to anger) מִגִּבּ֑וֹר (than a mighty one),

וּמֹשֵׁ֥ל (and one ruling) בְּ֝רוּח֗וֹ (over his spirit) מִלֹּכֵ֥ד (than one taking) עִֽיר׃ (a city).

33  בַּ֭חֵיק (Into the lap) יוּטַ֣ל (is cast) אֶת־ (-) הַגּוֹרָ֑ל (the lot),

וּ֝מֵיְהוָ֗ה (and from YHWH) כָּל־ (is all) מִשְׁפָּטֽוֹ׃ (its judgment).