Douay-Rheims Catholic Bible RHE
New Revised Standard NRS
1 It is the part of man to prepare the soul: and of the Lord to govern the tongue.
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The plans of the mind belong to mortals, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
2 All the ways of a man are open to his eyes: the Lord is the weigher of spirits.
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All one's ways may be pure in one's own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirit.
3 Lay open thy works to the Lord: and thy thoughts shall be directed.
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Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.
4 The Lord hath made all things for himself: the wicked also for the evil day.
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The Lord has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble.
5 Every proud man is an abomination to the Lord: though hand should 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 offer sacrifices.
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All those who are arrogant are an abomination to the Lord; be assured, they will not go unpunished.
6 By mercy and truth iniquity is redeemed; and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.
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By loyalty and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the Lord one avoids evil.
7 When the ways of man shall please the Lord, he will convert even his enemies to peace.
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When the ways of people please the Lord, he causes even their enemies to be at peace with them.
8 Better is a little with justice, than great revenues with iniquity.
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Better is a little with righteousness than large income with injustice.
9 The heart of man disposeth his way: but the Lord must direct his steps.
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The human mind plans the way, but the Lord directs the steps.
10 Divination is in the lips of the king, his mouth shall not err in judgment.
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Inspired decisions are on the lips of a king; his mouth does not sin in judgment.
11 Weight and balance are judgments of the Lord: and his work all the weights of the bag.
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Honest balances and scales are the Lord's; all the weights in the bag are his work.
12 They that act wickedly are abominable to the king: for the throne is established by justice.
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It is an abomination to kings to do evil, for the throne is established by righteousness.
13 Just lips are the delight of kings: he that speaketh right things shall be loved.
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Righteous lips are the delight of a king, and he loves those who speak what is right.
14 The wrath of a king is as messengers of death: and the wise man will pacify it.
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A king's wrath is a messenger of death, and whoever is wise will appease it.
15 In the cheerfulness of the king’s countenance is life: and his clemency is like the latter rain.
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In the light of a king's face there is life, and his favor is like the clouds that bring the spring rain.
16 Get wisdom, because it is better than gold: and purchase prudence, for it is more precious than silver.
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How much better to get wisdom than gold! To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.
17 The path of the just departeth from evils: he that keepeth his soul keepeth his way.
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The highway of the upright avoids evil; those who guard their way preserve their lives.
18 Pride goeth before destruction: and the spirit is lifted up before a fall.
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Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
19 It is better to be humbled with the meek, than to divide spoils with the proud.
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It is better to be of a lowly spirit among the poor than to divide the spoil with the proud.
20 The learned in word shall find good things: and he that trusteth in the Lord is blessed.
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Those who are attentive to a matter will prosper, and happy are those who trust in the Lord.
21 The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and he that is sweet in words, shall attain to greater things.
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The wise of heart is called perceptive, and pleasant speech increases persuasiveness.
22 Knowledge is a fountain of life to him that possesseth it: the instruction of fools is foolishness.
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Wisdom is a fountain of life to one who has it, but folly is the punishment of fools.
23 The heart of the wise shall instruct his mouth: and shall add grace to his lips.
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The mind of the wise makes their speech judicious, and adds persuasiveness to their lips.
24 Well ordered words are as a honeycomb: sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
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Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.
25 There is a way that seemeth to a man right: and the ends thereof lead to death.
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Sometimes there is a way that seems to be right, but in the end it is the way to death.
26 The soul of him that laboureth, laboureth for himself, because his mouth hath obliged him to it.
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The appetite of workers works for them; their hunger urges them on.
27 The wicked man diggeth evil, and in his lips is a burning fire.
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Scoundrels concoct evil, and their speech is like a scorching fire.
28 A perverse man stirreth up quarrels: and one full of words separateth princes.
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A perverse person spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends.
29 An unjust man allureth his friend: and leadeth him into a way that is not good.
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The violent entice their neighbors, and lead them in a way that is not good.
30 He that with fixed eyes deviseth wicked things, biting his lips, bringeth evil to pass.
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One who winks the eyes plans perverse things; one who compresses the lips brings evil to pass.
31 Old age is a crown of dignity, when it is found in the ways of justice.
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Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life.
32 The patient man is better than the valiant: and he that ruleth his spirit, than he that taketh cities.
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One who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and one whose temper is controlled than one who captures a city.
33 Lots are cast into the lap, but they are disposed of by the Lord.
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The lot is cast into the lap, but the decision is the Lord's alone.
The Douay-Rheims Bible is in the public domain.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.