All the works of the humble man are manifest with God; but the ungodly shall perish in an evil day.
Πάντα τὰ ἔργα τοῦ ταπεινοῦ φανερὰ παρὰ τῷ Θεῷ, οἱ δὲ ἀσεβεῖς ἐν ἡμέρᾳ κακῇ ὀλοῦνται.
The Old Testament
Proverbs 16
ΠΑΡΟΙΜΙΑΙ ΣΟΛΟΜΩΝΤΟΣ · 16
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29 Brenton verses
Every one that is proud in heart is unclean before God, and he that unjustly strikes hands with hand shall not be held guiltless.
Ἀκάθαρτος παρὰ Θεῷ πᾶς ὑψηλοκάρδιος, χειρὶ δὲ χεῖρας ἐμβαλὼν ἀδίκως οὐκ ἀθωωθήσεται·
The beginning of a good way is to do justly; and it is more acceptable with God than to offer sacrifices.
ἀρχὴ ὁδοῦ ἀγαθῆς τὸ ποιεῖν τὰ δίκαια, δεκτὰ δὲ παρὰ Θεῷ μᾶλλον ἢ θύειν θυσίας·
He that seeks the Lord shall find knowledge with righteousness: and they that rightly seek him shall find peace.
ὁ ζητῶν τὸν Κύριον εὑρήσει γνῶσιν μετὰ δικαιοσύνης, οἱ δὲ ὀρθῶς ζητοῦντες αὐτὸν εὑρήσουσιν εἰρήνην.
All the works of the Lord are done with righteousness; and the ungodly man is kept for the evil day.
Πάντα τὰ ἔργα τοῦ Κυρίου μετὰ δικαιοσύνης, φυλάσσεται δὲ ὁ ἀσεβὴς εἰς ἡμέραν κακήν.
There is an oracle upon the lips of a king; and his mouth shall not err in judgment.
Μαντεῖον ἐπὶ χείλεσι βασιλέως, ἐν δὲ κρίσει οὐ μὴ πλανηθῇ τὸ στόμα αὐτοῦ.
The poise of the balance is righteousness with the Lord; and his works are righteous measures.
Ῥοπὴ ζυγοῦ δικαιοσύνη παρὰ Κυρίῳ, τὰ δὲ ἔργα αὐτοῦ στάθμια δίκαια.
An evil-doer is an abomination to a king; for the throne of rule is established by righteousness.
Βδέλυγμα βασιλεῖ ὁ ποιῶν κακὰ, μετὰ γὰρ δικαιοσύνης ἑτοιμάζεται θρόνος ἀρχῆς.
Righteous lips are acceptable to a king; and he loves right words.
Δεκτὰ βασιλεῖ χείλη δίκαια, λόγους δέ ὀρθοὺς ἀγαπᾷ.
The anger of a king is a messenger of death; but a wise man will pacify him.
Θυμὸ βασιλέως ἄγγελος θανάτου, ἀνὴρ δὲ σοφὸς ἐξιλάσεται αὐτόν.
The son of a king is in the light of life; and they that are in favour with him are as a cloud of latter rain.
Ἐν φωτὶ ζωῆς υἱὸς βασιλέως, οἱ δὲ προσδεκτοὶ αὐτῷ ὥσπερ νέφος ὄψιμον.
The brood of wisdom is more to be chosen than gold, and the brood of prudence more to be chosen than silver.
Source notes (1)
- Or, Abodes. Comp. Heb. See Luke 13. 35.
Νοσσιαὶ σοφίας αἱρετώτεραι χρυσίου, νοσσιαὶ δὲ φρονήσεως αἱρετώτεραι ὑπὲρ ἀργύριον.
The paths of life turn aside from evil; and the ways of righteousness are length of life. He that receives instruction shall be in prosperity; and he that regards reproofs shall be made wise. He that keeps his ways, preserves his own soul; and he that loves his life will spare his mouth.
Τρίβοι ζωῆς ἐκκλίνουσιν ἀπὸ κακῶν, μῆκος δὲ βίου ὁδοὶ δικαιοσύνης. Ὁ δεχόμενος παιδείαν ἐν ἀγαθοῖς ἔσται, ὁ δὲ φυλάσσων ἐλέγχους σοφισθήσεται· ὃς φυλάσσει τὰς ἑαυτοῦ ὁδοὺς, τηρεῖ τὴν ἑαυτοῦ ψυχήν· ἀγαπῶν δὲ ζωὴν αὐτοῦ, φείσεται στόματος αὐτοῦ.
Pride goes before destruction, and folly before a fall.
Πρὸ συντριβῆς ἡγεῖται ὕβρις, πρὸ δὲ πτώματος κακοφροσύνη.
Better is a meek-spirited man with lowliness, than one who divides spoils with the proud.
Source notes (1)
- Or, affliction.
Κρείσσων πρᾳΰθυμος μετὰ ταπεινώσεως, ἢ ὃς διαιρεῖται σκῦλα μετὰ ὑβριστῶν.
He who is skilful in business finds good: but he that trusts in God is most blessed.
Συνετὸς ἐν πράγμασιν εὑρετὴς ἀγαθῶν, πεποιθὼς δὲ ἐπὶ Θεῷ μακαριστός.
Men call the wise and understanding evil: but they that are pleasing in speech shall hear more.
Τοὺς σοφοὺς καὶ συνετοὺς φαύλους καλοῦσιν, οἱ δὲ γλυκεῖς ἐν λόγῳ πλείονα ἀκούσονται.
Understanding is a fountain of life to its possessors; but the instruction of fools is evil.
Πηγὴ ζωῆς ἔννοια τοῖς κεκτημένοις, παιδεία δὲ ἀφρόνων κακή.
The heart of the wise will discern the things which proceed from his own mouth; and on his lips he will wear knowledge.
Καρδία σοφοῦ νοήσει τὰ ἀπὸ τοῦ ἰδίου στόματος, ἐπὶ δὲ χείλεσι φορέσει ἐπιγνωμοσύνην·
Good words are honeycombs, and the sweetness thereof is a healing of the soul.
Κηρία μέλιτος λόγοι καλοί, γλύκασμα δὲ αὐτοῦ ἴασις ψυχῆς.
There are ways that seem to be right to a man, but the end of them looks to the depth of hell.
Εἰσὶν ὁδοὶ δοκοῦσαι εἶναι ὀρθαὶ ἀνδρὶ, τὰ μέντοι τελευταῖα αὐτῶν βλέπει εἰς πυθμένα ᾅδου.
A man who labours, labours for himself, and drives from him his own ruin.
Ἀνὴρ ἐν πόνοις πονεῖ ἑαυτῷ, καὶ ἐκβιάζεται τὴν ἀπώλειαν ἑαυτοῦ. Ὁ μέντοι σκολιὸς ἐπὶ τῷ ἑαυτοῦ στόματι φορεῖ τὴν ἀπώλειαν·
But the perverse bears destruction upon his own mouth: a foolish man digs up evil for himself, and treasures fire on his own lips.
ἀνὴρ ἄφρων ὀρύσσει ἑαυτῷ κακὰ, ἐπὶ δὲ τῶν ἑαυτοῦ χειλέων θησαυρίζει πῦρ.
A perverse man spreads mischief, and will kindle a torch of deceit with mischiefs; and he separates friends.
Ἀνὴρ σκολιὸς διαπέμπεται κακὰ, καὶ λαμπτῆρα δόλου πυρσεύσει κακοῖς, καὶ διαχωρίζει φίλους.
A transgressor tries to ensnare friends, and leads them in ways that are not good.
Ἀνὴρ παράνομος ἀποπειρᾶται φίλων, καὶ ἀπάγει αὐτοὺς ὁδοὺς οὐκ ἀγαθάς.
And the man that fixes his eyes devises perverse things, and marks out with his lips all evils: he is a furnace of wickedness.
Στηρίζων δὲ ὀφθαλμοὺς αὐτοῦ διαλογίζεται διεστραμμένα, ὁρίζει δὲ τοῖς χείλεσιν αὐτοῦ πάντα τὰ κακά· οὗτος κάμινός ἐστι κακίας.
Old age is a crown of honour, but it is found in the ways of righteousness.
Source notes (1)
- Gr. boasting.
Στέφανος καυχήσεως γῆρας, ἐν δὲ ὁδοῖς δικαιοσύνης εὑρίσκεται.
A man slow to anger is better than a strong man; and he that governs his temper better than he that takes a city.
Κρείσσων ἀνὴρ μακρόθυμος ἰσχυροῦ, ὁ δὲ κρατῶν ὀργῆς κρείσσων καταλαμβανομένου πόλιν.
All evils come upon the ungodly into their bosoms; but all righteous things come of the Lord.
Εἰς κόλπους ἐπέρχεται πάντα τοῖς ἀδίκοις, παρὰ δὲ Κυρίου πάντα τὰ δίκαια.
Brenton supplied wording, small capitals, translation notes, Greek wording, and edition-specific verse identifiers are retained. Parallel passages keep each edition's own references. Editions and sources.