1 Die koning se hart is in die hand van die HERE soos waterstrome: Hy lei dit waarheen Hy wil.
2 Elke weg van 'n mens is reg in sy oë, maar die HERE toets die harte.
3 Om geregtigheid en reg te doen, is vir die HERE verkiesliker as offers.
4 Hoogheid van oë en trotsheid van hart -- die glans van die goddelose is sonde.
5 Die planne van die vlytige is net tot voordeel, maar elkeen wat oorhaastig is, kom net tot gebrek.
6 Die verwerwing van skatte deur 'n valse tong is 'n verwaaide asem -- dodelike valstrikke.
7 Die gewelddadigheid van die goddelose sleep hulle weg, want hulle weier om reg te doen.
8 Gekronkeld is die weg van 'n skuldige mens; maar die reine -- sy handeling is reg.
9 Dit is beter om op die hoek van 'n dak te woon as by 'n twisgierige vrou en 'n gemeenskaplike huis.
10 Die siel van die goddelose begeer die kwaad; sy naaste vind in sy oë geen genade nie.
11 As 'n mens 'n spotter straf, word die eenvoudige bedagsaam; en as 'n mens 'n wyse onderrig, neem hy self kennis aan.
12 Die regverdige let op die huis van die goddelose; Hy stort die goddelose in die ongeluk.
13 Wie sy oor toestop vir die geskreeu van die arme, hy sal self ook roep en nie verhoor word nie.
14 'n Geskenk in die geheim bring die toorn tot bedaring en 'n geskenk in die skoot die heftige woede.
15 Vreugde is dit vir die regverdige om reg te doen, maar 'n verskrikking vir die werkers van ongeregtigheid.
16 'n Mens wat afdwaal van die pad van verstand, sal in die vergadering van die skimme rus.
17 Wie van vrolikheid hou, is 'n man van gebrek; hy wat van wyn en olie hou, sal nie ryk word nie.
18 Die goddelose is 'n losprys vir die regverdige, en in die plek van die opregtes kom die ontroue.
19 Dit is beter om in 'n woeste land te woon as by 'n twisgierige vrou en ergernis.
20 'n Kosbare skat en olie is in die woning van die regverdige, maar 'n dwase mens bring dit deur.
21 Wie geregtigheid en weldadigheid najaag, sal die lewe, geregtigheid en eer vind.
22 Die wyse beklim die stad van die helde en gooi die vesting neer waar dit op vertrou.
23 Hy wat sy mond en sy tong bewaar, bewaar sy siel van benoudhede.
24 'n Vermetele, 'n trotsaard word 'n spotter genoem, een wat in oormaat van vermetelheid handel.
25 Die begeerte van die luiaard sal hom doodmaak, want sy hande weier om te werk;
26 die hele dag deur word daar dringend begeer, maar die regverdige gee en hou nie terug nie.
27 Die offer van die goddelose is 'n gruwel; hoeveel te meer as hulle dit met skandelike bedoeling bring.
28 'n Leuenagtige getuie kom om; maar 'n man wat goed toeluister, spreek vir altyd.
29 Die goddelose trek 'n onbeskaamde gesig, maar die opregte gee aan sy weë die regte rigting.
30 Daar is geen wysheid, en daar is geen verstand, en daar is geen raad teenoor die HERE nie.
31 Die perd word reggemaak vir die dag van die geveg, maar die oorwinning is deur die HERE.
1 The king's heart in the hands of the Lord is like the water streams, and by him it is turned in any direction at his pleasure.
2 Every way of a man seems right to himself, but the Lord is the tester of hearts.
3 To do what is right and true is more pleasing to the Lord than an offering.
4 A high look and a heart of pride, *** of the evil-doer is sin.
5 The purposes of the man of industry have their outcome only in wealth; but one who is over-quick in acting will only come to be in need.
6 He who gets stores of wealth by a false tongue, is going after what is only breath, and searching for death.
7 By their violent acts the evil-doers will be pulled away, because they have no desire to do what is right.
8 Twisted is the way of him who is full of crime; but as for him whose heart is clean, his work is upright.
9 It is better to be living in an angle of the house-top, than with a bitter-tongued woman in a wide house.
10 The desire of the evil-doer is fixed on evil: he has no kind feeling for his neighbour.
11 When the man of pride undergoes punishment, the simple man gets wisdom; and by watching the wise he gets knowledge.
12 The Upright One, looking on the house of the evil-doer, lets sinners be overturned to their destruction.
13 He whose ears are stopped at the cry of the poor, will himself get no answer to his cry for help.
14 By a secret offering wrath is turned away, and the heat of angry feelings by money in the folds of the robe.
15 It is a joy to the good man to do right, but it is destruction to the workers of evil.
16 The wanderer from the way of knowledge will have his resting-place among the shades.
17 The lover of pleasure will be a poor man: the lover of wine and oil will not get wealth.
18 The evil-doer will be given as a price for the life of the good man, and the worker of deceit in the place of the upright.
19 It is better to be living in a waste land, than with a bitter-tongued and angry woman.
20 There is a store of great value in the house of the wise, but it is wasted by the foolish man.
21 He who goes after righteousness and mercy will get life, righteousness, and honour.
22 A wise man goes up into the town of the strong ones, and overcomes its strength in which they put their faith.
23 He who keeps watch over his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from troubles.
24 The man of pride, lifted up in soul, is named high-hearted; he is acting in an outburst of pride.
25 The desire of the hater of work is death to him, for his hands will do no work.
26 All the day the sinner goes after his desire: but the upright man gives freely, keeping nothing back.
27 The offering of evil-doers is disgusting: how much more when they give it with an evil purpose!
28 A false witness will be cut off, ...
29 The evil-doer makes his face hard, but as for the upright, he gives thought to his way.
30 Wisdom and knowledge and wise suggestions are of no use against the Lord.
31 The horse is made ready for the day of war, but power to overcome is from the Lord.