Proverbs 16

The poetry of Proverbs is not in normal sentence structures. Slowly consider the alternative readings as you read. We have just noted the body of Yahweh implied in Exodus 30. Note throughout Proverbs how many body parts are mentioned. These books reflect an awareness of flesh and blood. They are material story, not a set of disembodied generalities.

I laughed at some of these and read a few of them over the phone to one of my sons. Enjoy them if you can.

Proverbs 16		Fn		Min	Max	Syll
לְאָדָ֥ם מַֽעַרְכֵי־לֵ֑ב וּ֝מֵיְהוָ֗ה מַעֲנֵ֥ה לָשֽׁוֹן	1		To an earthling, from the arrangements of a heart, and from Yahweh, an answer of a tongue.	3e	4A	7 9
כָּֽל־דַּרְכֵי־אִ֭ישׁ זַ֣ךְ בְּעֵינָ֑יו וְתֹכֵ֖ן רוּח֣וֹת יְהוָֽה	2		All the ways of each, clear in their own eyes, but Yahweh stabilizes spirits.	3e	4B	8 7
גֹּ֣ל אֶל־יְהוָ֣ה מַעֲשֶׂ֑יךָ וְ֝יִכֹּ֗נוּ מַחְשְׁבֹתֶֽיךָ	3	B	Roll with Yahweh your deeds, and prepared will be your reckonings.	3e	4B	8 9
כֹּ֤ל פָּעַ֣ל יְ֭הוָה לַֽמַּעֲנֵ֑הוּ וְגַם־רָ֝שָׁ֗ע לְי֣וֹם רָעָֽה	4	C	All the work of Yahweh is on account of himself, and even one who is wicked, for the day of evil.	3e	4C	10 8
תּוֹעֲבַ֣ת יְ֭הוָה כָּל־גְּבַהּ־לֵ֑ב יָ֥ד לְ֝יָ֗ד לֹ֣א יִנָּקֶֽה	5		An abomination to Yahweh, every haughty heart. Hand to hand, it will not be held innocent.	3e	4B	9 7
בְּחֶ֣סֶד וֶ֭אֱמֶת יְכֻפַּ֣ר עָוֺ֑ן וּבְיִרְאַ֥ת יְ֝הוָ֗ה ס֣וּר מֵרָֽע	6		In kindness and truth iniquity is covered over, and in the fear of Yahweh, turn aside from evil.	3e	4B	11 8
בִּרְצ֣וֹת יְ֭הוָה דַּרְכֵי־אִ֑ישׁ גַּם־א֝וֹיְבָ֗יו יַשְׁלִ֥ם אִתּֽוֹ	7		In the acceptance of Yahweh, the ways of each. Even with its enemies, he will make its peace.	3e	4B	7 7
טוֹב־מְ֭עַט בִּצְדָקָ֑ה מֵרֹ֥ב תְּ֝בוּא֗וֹת בְּלֹ֣א מִשְׁפָּֽט	8		Better a little in righteousness, than abundant income without astuteness.	3e	4B	6 9
לֵ֣ב אָ֭דָם יְחַשֵּׁ֣ב דַּרְכּ֑וֹ וַֽ֝יהוָ֗ה יָכִ֥ין צַעֲדֽוֹ	9	B	Human heart will reckon its way, but Yahweh prepares its paces.	3e	4B	8 7
קֶ֤סֶם ׀ עַֽל־שִׂפְתֵי־מֶ֑לֶךְ בְּ֝מִשְׁפָּ֗ט לֹ֣א יִמְעַל־פִּֽיו	10	C	Soothsaying on the lips of a sovereign? In the judgment, its mouth will not trespass.	3e	4C	6 7
פֶּ֤לֶס ׀ וּמֹאזְנֵ֣י מִ֭שְׁפָּט לַֽיהוָ֑ה מַ֝עֲשֵׂ֗הוּ כָּל־אַבְנֵי־כִֽיס	11	C	Level and balanced is a judgment of Yahweh, his deed, all the stones of a cup.	3e	4C	9 8
תּוֹעֲבַ֣ת מְ֭לָכִים עֲשׂ֣וֹת רֶ֑שַׁע כִּ֥י בִ֝צְדָקָ֗ה יִכּ֥וֹן כִּסֵּֽא	12		An abomination to sovereigns, to do wickedness, for in righteousness a throne is established.	3e	4B	10 8
רְצ֣וֹן מְ֭לָכִים שִׂפְתֵי־צֶ֑דֶק וְדֹבֵ֖ר יְשָׁרִ֣ים יֶאֱהָֽב	13		Acceptable to sovereigns, the lips of righteousness, and speaking what is upright, they love.	3e	4B	8 9
חֲמַת־מֶ֥לֶךְ מַלְאֲכֵי־מָ֑וֶת וְאִ֖ישׁ חָכָ֣ם יְכַפְּרֶֽנָּה	14		The heat of a sovereign, messengers of death, but a shrewd person will cover it over.	3e	4B	8 8
בְּאוֹר־פְּנֵי־מֶ֥לֶךְ חַיִּ֑ים וּ֝רְצוֹנ֗וֹ כְּעָ֣ב מַלְקֽוֹשׁ	15		In the light of the face of a sovereign is life, and its favour is like a thick cloud of maturing rain.	3e	4B	7 7
קְֽנֹה־חָכְמָ֗ה מַה־טּ֥וֹב מֵחָר֑וּץ וּקְנ֥וֹת בִּ֝ינָ֗ה נִבְחָ֥ר מִכָּֽסֶף	16		To acquire wisdom, how much better than bullion, and to acquire discernment, a choice than silver.	3e	4A	9 9
מְסִלַּ֣ת יְ֭שָׁרִים ס֣וּר מֵרָ֑ע שֹׁמֵ֥ר נַ֝פְשׁ֗וֹ נֹצֵ֥ר דַּרְכּֽוֹ	17		The highway of the upright, to turn aside from evil. One who keeps itself, preserves its way.	3e	4B	9 8
לִפְנֵי־שֶׁ֥בֶר גָּא֑וֹן וְלִפְנֵ֥י כִ֝שָּׁל֗וֹן גֹּ֣בַהּ רֽוּחַ	18		Before brokenness, pride, and before a stumble, a haughty spirit.	3e	4B	5 10
ט֣וֹב שְׁפַל־ר֭וּחַ אֶת־עֲנָוִ֑ים מֵֽחַלֵּ֥ק שָׁ֝לָ֗ל אֶת־גֵּאִֽים	19	B	Better a humble spirit with the afflicted, than to divide spoil with the proud.	3e	4B	9 8
מַשְׂכִּ֣יל עַל־דָּ֭בָר יִמְצָא־ט֑וֹב וּבוֹטֵ֖חַ בַּיהוָ֣ה אַשְׁרָֽיו	20		Insight on a matter finds good, and one trusting in Yahweh, happy it is.	3e	4B	8 8
לַחֲכַם־לֵ֭ב יִקָּרֵ֣א נָב֑וֹן וּמֶ֥תֶק שְׂ֝פָתַ֗יִם יֹסִ֥יף לֶֽקַח	21		The shrewd heart will be called understanding, and the sweetness of lips will add to tuition.	3e	4B	9 10
מְק֣וֹר חַ֭יִּים שֵׂ֣כֶל בְּעָלָ֑יו וּמוּסַ֖ר אֱוִלִ֣ים אִוֶּֽלֶת	22		A fountain of life, insight in its owner, but the chastening of the foolish, foolishness.	3e	4B	9 9
לֵ֣ב חָ֭כָם יַשְׂכִּ֣יל פִּ֑יהוּ וְעַל־שְׂ֝פָתָ֗יו יֹסִ֥יף לֶֽקַח	23	B	The heart of the shrewd gives insight to its mouth, and tuition adds to its lips.	3e	4B	7 9
צוּף־דְּ֭בַשׁ אִמְרֵי־נֹ֑עַם מָת֥וֹק לַ֝נֶּפֶשׁ וּמַרְפֵּ֥א לָעָֽצֶם	24		Cascading honey, the sayings of pleasantness, sweet to integrity, and healing to the bones.	3e	4A	6 11
יֵ֤שׁ דֶּ֣רֶךְ יָ֭שָׁר לִפְנֵי־אִ֑ישׁ וְ֝אַחֲרִיתָ֗הּ דַּרְכֵי־מָֽוֶת	25	C	There is a way that is upright facing a person, and following it are the ways of death.	3e	4C	8 8
נֶ֣פֶשׁ עָ֭מֵל עָ֣מְלָה לּ֑וֹ כִּֽי־אָכַ֖ף עָלָ֣יו פִּֽיהוּ	26	B	The self that toils toils for itself, for its mouth has it in an arm-twist.	3e	4B	7 6
אִ֣ישׁ בְּ֭לִיַּעַל כֹּרֶ֣ה רָעָ֑ה וְעַל־שְׂ֝פָת֗וֹ כְּאֵ֣שׁ צָרָֽבֶת	27	B	A worthless person digs up hurt, and on its lips, as searing fire.	3e	4B	9 10
אִ֣ישׁ תַּ֭הְפֻּכוֹת יְשַׁלַּ֣ח מָד֑וֹן וְ֝נִרְגָּ֗ן מַפְרִ֥יד אַלּֽוּף	28	B	One who is wayward dispenses dissension, and one who natters separates a thousand.	3e	4B	9 7
אִ֣ישׁ חָ֭מָס יְפַתֶּ֣ה רֵעֵ֑הוּ וְ֝הוֹלִיכ֗וֹ בְּדֶ֣רֶךְ לֹא־טֽוֹב	29	B	A violent person seduces its associate, and ushers it in a way that is not good.	3e	4B	9 9
עֹצֶ֣ה עֵ֭ינָיו לַחְשֹׁ֣ב תַּהְפֻּכ֑וֹת קֹרֵ֥ץ שְׂ֝פָתָ֗יו כִּלָּ֥ה רָעָֽה	30		It counsels its eyes to devise waywardness. It pinches its lips to finish hurting.	3e	4B	9 9
עֲטֶ֣רֶת תִּפְאֶ֣רֶת שֵׂיבָ֑ה בְּדֶ֥רֶךְ צְ֝דָקָ֗ה תִּמָּצֵֽא	31		A crown of adornment grey hairs, found in the way righteousness.	3e	4B	8 9
ט֤וֹב אֶ֣רֶךְ אַ֭פַּיִם מִגִּבּ֑וֹר וּמֹשֵׁ֥ל בְּ֝רוּח֗וֹ מִלֹּכֵ֥ד עִֽיר	32	C	Better to be slow to anger than valiant, or to govern in one's spirit than to conquer a city.	3e	4C	8 10
בַּ֭חֵיק יוּטַ֣ל אֶת־הַגּוֹרָ֑ל וּ֝מֵיְהוָ֗ה כָּל־מִשְׁפָּטֽוֹ	33	g	Into the embrace, hurled are the dice, and from Yahweh, his every judgment.	3e	4B	8 8