BishopHumble planning

Proverbs 16 — Human plans, righteous rule, and disciplined speech — Hebrew and Greek compared

Saints Translation — Proverbs 1–31 [V1]

Same 1 Similar 6 Different 16 Divergent 8 Disparate 4

Disparate in this chapter: H 16:15, H 16:21, H 16:26, H 16:33

Each card keeps the independently rendered source readings above their shared comparison and reception notes. The badge records the source’s governing classification; disparate readings are marked in red. Each reading retains its original reference.

Proverbs 16 — Human plans, righteous rule, and disciplined speech

Hebrew navigation is retained. G 15:27a,28a,29a,29b align respectively with H 16:6–9; G 16:9 aligns with H 16:4. Actual source numbers are retained in each cell. G 16:7–8 are separately displayed; H 16:1,3 have no counterpart here. G 16:2 also echoes H 16:4, but is translated only once.

16:1–16:9 — Plans, divine judgment, and reconciliation

Verse H 16:1 Divergent

Hebrew–English (H)

H 16:1

To a person belong the arrangements of the heart,

but from YHWH comes the answer of the tongue.

Greek–English (G)

G —

[No corresponding text in the displayed Greek main text.]

Comparison and reception

Divergent. Text: No corresponding G saying is displayed at 16:1.

Verse H 16:2 Divergent

Hebrew–English (H)

H 16:2

All a man's ways are pure in his own eyes,

but YHWH weighs spirits.

Greek–English (G)

G 16:2

All the works of the humble are manifest before God,

but the impious will perish on an evil day.

Comparison and reception

Divergent. Text: G has the humble person's works visible to God rather than a person's favorable self-assessment and divine weighing. Its second clause also echoes the evil-day theme of H 16:4; all of source G 16:2 remains in this one row.

Verse H 16:3 Divergent

Hebrew–English (H)

H 16:3

Roll your works onto YHWH,

and your plans will be established.

Greek–English (G)

G —

[No corresponding text in the displayed Greek main text.]

Comparison and reception

Divergent. Text: No corresponding G saying is displayed at 16:3. H's rolling image conveys committing one's work to YHWH.

Verse H 16:4 Different

Hebrew–English (H)

H 16:4

YHWH has made everything for its purpose,

even the wicked for an evil day.

Greek–English (G)

G 16:9

All the works of the Lord are with righteousness,

but the impious is kept for an evil day.

Comparison and reception

Different. Text: Aligned by content with actual G 16:9. H lamma'anehu may mean for its answer or purpose, or for His own purpose; the antecedent is debated. G emphasizes righteous works and the wicked being kept, rather than expressly made, for the evil day.

Verse H 16:5 Different

Hebrew–English (H)

H 16:5

Everyone high of heart is an abomination to YHWH;

hand to hand, he will not go unpunished.

Greek–English (G)

G 16:5

Everyone high of heart is unclean before God,

and one who unjustly puts hands into a hand will not be acquitted.

Comparison and reception

Different. Text: H's uncertain 'hand to hand' idiom repeats 11:21; G again makes wrongful hand-joining explicit. H abomination differs from G unclean.

Verse H 16:6 Different

Hebrew–English (H)

H 16:6

By steadfast kindness and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for,

and by the fear of YHWH one turns from evil.

Greek–English (G)

G 15:27a

By acts of mercy and faithfulness sins are thoroughly cleansed,

and by the fear of the Lord everyone turns from evil.

Comparison and reception

Different. Text: Actual G 15:27a is aligned here once. H uses the atonement verb kipper and singular iniquity; G speaks of thorough cleansing of sins through acts of mercy and faithfulness and adds 'everyone'.

Verse H 16:7 Different

Hebrew–English (H)

H 16:7

When YHWH delights in a man's ways,

He makes even his enemies be at peace with him.

Greek–English (G)

G 15:28a

The ways of righteous men are acceptable to the Lord,

and through them even enemies become friends.

Comparison and reception

Different. Text: Actual G 15:28a is aligned here once. H explicitly makes YHWH the agent of reconciliation; G says enemies become friends through the acceptable ways.

Verse H 16:8 Similar

Hebrew–English (H)

H 16:8

Better a little with righteousness

than abundant produce without justice.

Greek–English (G)

G 15:29a

Better a small receipt with righteousness

than much produce with injustice.

Comparison and reception

Similar. Text: Actual G 15:29a is aligned here once. G specifies a small receipt or gain and positively names injustice.

Verse H 16:9 Different

Hebrew–English (H)

H 16:9

A person's heart plans his way,

but YHWH establishes his step.

Greek–English (G)

G 15:29b

Let a man's heart consider righteous things,

so that his steps may be set right by God.

Comparison and reception

Different. Text: Actual G 15:29b is aligned here once. G commands righteous deliberation and makes divine correction of steps its purpose; H states human planning and YHWH's establishment.

G16:7–G16:8 — Further Greek sayings on righteousness and seeking the Lord

Verse 16:7 Divergent

Hebrew–English (H)

H —

[No corresponding text in the displayed Hebrew chapter.]

Greek–English (G)

G 16:7

The beginning of a good way is to do righteous things,

and these are more acceptable before God than sacrificing sacrifices.

Comparison and reception

Divergent. Text: This actual G 16:7 saying has a thematic counterpart at H 21:3 and a separate related saying at G 21:3, both directly read. It remains a distinct source entry translated once here, not forced against H 16:7 or duplicated at 21:3.

Verse 16:8 Divergent

Hebrew–English (H)

H —

[No corresponding text in the displayed Hebrew chapter.]

Greek–English (G)

G 16:8

One who seeks the Lord will find knowledge with righteousness,

and those who seek Him rightly will find peace.

Comparison and reception

Divergent. Text: This actual G 16:8 saying has no corresponding clause in H chapter 16 and is retained separately.

16:10–16:17 — Kingship and wisdom

Verse H 16:10 Similar

Hebrew–English (H)

H 16:10

An oracle is on a king's lips;

his mouth must not act faithlessly in judgment.

Greek–English (G)

G 16:10

An oracle is on the lips of a king,

and his mouth will certainly not go astray in judgment.

Comparison and reception

Similar. Text: H's imperfect is read normatively, 'must not', with a descriptive 'does not' also possible; G uses an emphatic future denial. Neither is turned into an unrestricted endorsement of every royal decision.

Verse H 16:11 Different

Hebrew–English (H)

H 16:11

A balance and scales of justice belong to YHWH;

all the stone-weights in the bag are His work.

Greek–English (G)

G 16:11

The balance's inclination is righteousness before the Lord,

and His works are just weights.

Comparison and reception

Different. Text: H names a balance, scales, and the bag's weighing stones; G emphasizes the balance's tilt and God's works as fair weights.

Verse H 16:12 Similar

Hebrew–English (H)

H 16:12

Doing wickedness is an abomination to kings,

for a throne is established by righteousness.

Greek–English (G)

G 16:12

One who does evil is an abomination to a king,

for a throne of rule is prepared with righteousness.

Comparison and reception

Similar. Text: H condemns the action, G its doer, and G explicitly calls it a ruling throne.

Verse H 16:13 Different

Hebrew–English (H)

H 16:13

Righteous lips are the delight of kings,

and a king loves one who speaks upright things.

Greek–English (G)

G 16:13

Righteous lips are acceptable to a king,

and he loves upright words.

Comparison and reception

Different. Text: H's second subject shifts to singular and is supplied as a king; G loves words rather than their speaker.

Verse H 16:14 Different

Hebrew–English (H)

H 16:14

A king's wrath is messengers of death,

but a wise man appeases it.

Greek–English (G)

G 16:14

A king's wrath is a messenger of death,

but a wise man will appease him.

Comparison and reception

Different. Text: H's plural death-messengers and appeasement of wrath differ from G's singular messenger and appeasement of the king.

Verse H 16:15 Disparate

Hebrew–English (H)

H 16:15

In the light of a king's face is life,

and his favor is like a cloud of late rain.

Greek–English (G)

G 16:15

In the light of life is a king's son,

and those acceptable to him are like a cloud of late rain.

Comparison and reception

Disparate. Text: H describes the king's bright face and favor; G explicitly has a king's son in life's light and favored people as the rain-cloud. The unusual G relationship is retained.

Verse H 16:16 Different

Hebrew–English (H)

H 16:16

How much better to acquire wisdom than gold,

and to acquire understanding is preferable to silver!

Greek–English (G)

G 16:16

Nests of wisdom are more desirable than gold,

and nests of understanding more desirable than silver.

Comparison and reception

Different. Text: G nossiai literally denotes nests or broods; the image is retained provisionally, not replaced by H's acquiring. Both value wisdom over precious metals.

Verse H 16:17 Divergent

Hebrew–English (H)

H 16:17

The raised road of the upright is turning from evil;

one who guards his way keeps his life.

Greek–English (G)

G 16:17

Paths of life turn aside from evils,

and ways of righteousness are length of life.

One who receives discipline will be amid good things,

and one who keeps rebukes will be made wise.

One who guards his own ways keeps his own life,

and one who loves his life will spare his mouth.

Comparison and reception

Divergent. Text: G expands H's two clauses into six, adding longevity, reception of discipline, wisdom through rebuke, and restraint of speech.

16:18–16:25 — Humility and wise words

Verse H 16:18 Different

Hebrew–English (H)

H 16:18

Pride comes before breaking,

and height of spirit before stumbling.

Greek–English (G)

G 16:18

Insolence leads before ruin,

and evil-mindedness before a fall.

Comparison and reception

Different. Text: H's elevated spirit becomes G's evil-mindedness; the destructive sequence agrees.

Verse H 16:19 Different

Hebrew–English (H)

H 16:19

Better to be lowly in spirit with the afflicted

than to divide spoil with the proud.

Greek–English (G)

G 16:19

Better a gentle-tempered person with humility

than one who divides spoils with the insolent.

Comparison and reception

Different. Text: H names the afflicted as companions; G humility as the accompanying quality.

Verse H 16:20 Similar

Hebrew–English (H)

H 16:20

One who gives prudent attention to a matter finds good,

and happy is one who trusts in YHWH.

Greek–English (G)

G 16:20

One understanding in matters is a finder of good things,

and one trusting in God is blessed.

Comparison and reception

Similar. Text: H can also concern attentiveness to a word; G uses practical matters. The divine designation differs.

Verse H 16:21 Disparate

Hebrew–English (H)

H 16:21

One wise of heart is called understanding,

and sweetness of lips increases learning.

Greek–English (G)

G 16:21

They call the wise and understanding worthless,

but those sweet in speech will hear more.

Comparison and reception

Disparate. Text: G explicitly calls the wise worthless, in contrast to H's positive reputation, and predicts more hearing for sweet speakers rather than increased learning conveyed by sweet lips.

Verse H 16:22 Similar

Hebrew–English (H)

H 16:22

Prudence is a fountain of life to its possessor,

but the discipline of fools is folly.

Greek–English (G)

G 16:22

Reflection is a fountain of life to those who possess it,

but the discipline of fools is evil.

Comparison and reception

Similar. Text: G calls the fools' discipline evil rather than folly; the first image closely agrees.

Verse H 16:23 Different

Hebrew–English (H)

H 16:23

A wise heart gives prudence to its mouth,

and adds learning to its lips.

Greek–English (G)

G 16:23

A wise person's heart will understand what comes from his own mouth,

and will carry discernment upon his lips.

Comparison and reception

Different. Text: H's heart instructs the mouth; G's understands the mouth's output and bears discernment on the lips.

Verse H 16:24 Different

Hebrew–English (H)

H 16:24

Pleasant sayings are a honeycomb,

sweet to the life and healing to the bones.

Greek–English (G)

G 16:24

Good words are honeycombs,

and their sweetness is healing of the life.

Comparison and reception

Different. Text: H gives sweetness to the life and healing to bones; G makes the words' sweetness heal the life.

Verse H 16:25 Different

Hebrew–English (H)

H 16:25

There is a way upright before a man,

but its end is ways of death.

Greek–English (G)

G 16:25

There are ways that seem upright to a man,

but their final outcome looks toward the bottom of Hades.

Comparison and reception

Different. Text: As at 14:12, G names apparent uprightness and the bottom of Hades; H retains death's ways.

16:26–16:33 — Destructive speech and self-command

Verse H 16:26 Disparate

Hebrew–English (H)

H 16:26

The appetite of a worker works for him,

for his mouth presses him on.

Greek–English (G)

G 16:26

A man in toils toils for himself and forces on his own destruction;

but the crooked person carries destruction upon his own mouth.

Comparison and reception

Disparate. Text: H portrays hunger urging labor; G portrays toil forcing destruction and adds a crooked mouth carrying it. G's troubling first claim is not softened into successful work.

Verse H 16:27 Different

Hebrew–English (H)

H 16:27

A worthless man digs up evil,

and on his lips is something like scorching fire.

Greek–English (G)

G 16:27

A foolish man digs evils for himself,

and upon his own lips stores up fire.

Comparison and reception

Different. Text: G explicitly makes the digging self-directed and the fire stored; H uses a comparison to scorching fire.

Verse H 16:28 Divergent

Hebrew–English (H)

H 16:28

A perverse man sends out dispute,

and a whisperer separates a close companion.

Greek–English (G)

G 16:28

A crooked man sends out evils,

lights a torch of deceit for evil people,

and separates friends.

Comparison and reception

Divergent. Text: G adds the torch of deceit and keeps one crooked agent; H separately names a whisperer. H alluf denotes an intimate companion here.

Verse H 16:29 Different

Hebrew–English (H)

H 16:29

A violent man entices his neighbor,

and leads him in a way that is not good.

Greek–English (G)

G 16:29

A lawless man puts friends to the test,

and leads them away into ways that are not good.

Comparison and reception

Different. Text: H explicitly entices a neighbor; G tests or attempts to mislead friends, with that nuance determined by the following harmful leading.

Verse H 16:30 Divergent

Hebrew–English (H)

H 16:30

One who shuts his eyes devises perversities;

one who pinches his lips has completed evil.

Greek–English (G)

G 16:30

Fixing his eyes, he considers perverted things,

and with his lips determines all evils;

this man is a furnace of wickedness.

Comparison and reception

Divergent. Text: H's eye-closing and lip-pinching gestures become G's fixed gaze and verbal determination. G adds the furnace image.

Verse H 16:31 Similar

Hebrew–English (H)

H 16:31

Gray hair is a crown of splendor;

it is found in the way of righteousness.

Greek–English (G)

G 16:31

Old age is a crown of boasting,

and it is found in ways of righteousness.

Comparison and reception

Similar. Text: H specifies gray hair; G old age and grounds for boasting.

Verse H 16:32 Same

Hebrew–English (H)

H 16:32

Better one slow to anger than a mighty warrior,

and one who rules his spirit than one who captures a city.

Greek–English (G)

G 16:32

A patient man is better than a strong man,

and one who controls anger is better than one who captures a city.

Comparison and reception

Same. Text: Both rank self-command above military strength; G explicitly identifies anger as what is controlled.

Verse H 16:33 Disparate

Hebrew–English (H)

H 16:33

The lot is cast into the lap,

but every decision of it is from YHWH.

Greek–English (G)

G 16:33

Everything comes into the laps of the unjust,

but all righteous things are from the Lord.

Comparison and reception

Disparate. Text: H describes lot-casting and divine determination; G the unjust receiving things into their laps and righteousness coming from the Lord. No explicit lot is written in G.