The Reply of the Tongue Is from the LORD

1It is for man to prepare the soul, and for the Lord to govern the tongue.

2All the ways of a man are open to his eyes; the Lord is the one who weighs spirits.

3Open your works to the Lord, and your intentions will be set in order.

4The Lord has wrought all things because of himself. Likewise the impious is for the evil day.

5All the arrogant are an abomination to the Lord. Even if hand will be joined to hand, he is not innocent. The beginning of a good way is to do justice. And this is more acceptable with God than to immolate sacrifices.

6By mercy and truth, iniquity is redeemed. And by the fear of the Lord, one turns away from evil.

7When the ways of man will please the Lord, he will convert even his enemies to peace.

8Better is a little with justice, than many fruits with iniquity.

9The heart of man disposes his way. But it is for Lord to direct his steps.

10Foreknowledge is in the lips of the king. His mouth shall not err in judgment.

11Weights and scales are judgments of the Lord. And all the stones in the bag are his work.

12Those who act impiously are abominable to the king. For the throne is made firm by justice.

13Just lips are the will of kings. He who speaks honestly shall be loved.

14The indignation of a king is a herald of death. And the wise man will appease it.

15In the cheerfulness of the king’s countenance, there is life. And his clemency is like belated rain.

16Possess wisdom, for it is better than gold. And acquire prudence, for it is more precious than silver.

17The path of the just turns away from evils. He who guards his soul preserves his way.

18Arrogance precedes destruction. And the spirit is exalted before a fall.

19It is better to be humbled with the meek, than to divide spoils with the arrogant.

20The learned in word shall find good things. And whoever hopes in the Lord is blessed.

21Whoever is wise in heart shall be called prudent. And whoever is sweet in eloquence shall attain to what is greater.

22Learning is a fountain of life to one who possesses it. The doctrine of the foolish is senseless.

23The heart of the wise shall instruct his mouth and add grace to his lips.

24Careful words are a honeycomb: sweet to the soul and healthful to the bones.

25There is a way which seems right to a man, and its end result leads to death.

26The soul of the laborer labors for himself, because his mouth has driven him to it.

27The impious man digs up evil, and in his lips is a burning fire.

28A perverse man stirs up lawsuits. And one who is verbose divides leaders.

29A man of iniquity entices his friend, and he leads him along a way that is not good.

30Whoever, with astonished eyes, thinks up depravities, biting his lips, accomplishes evil.

31Old age is a crown of dignity, when it is found in the ways of justice.

32A patient man is better than a strong one. And whoever rules his soul is better than one who assaults cities.

33Lots are cast into the lap, but they are tempered by the Lord.