Wisdom is supreme. Get wisdom. Yes, though it costs all your possessions, get understanding. | Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do! And whatever else you do, develop good judgment. |
Get wisdom. Get understanding. Don’t forget, and don’t deviate from the words of my mouth. | Get wisdom; develop good judgment. Don’t forget my words or turn away from them. |
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How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! Yes, to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver. | How much better to get wisdom than gold, and good judgment than silver! |
Now why do you wait? Arise, be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord. | What are you waiting for? Get up and be baptized. Have your sins washed away by calling on the name of the Lord. |
Don’t weary yourself to be rich. In your wisdom, show restraint. | Don’t wear yourself out trying to get rich. Be wise enough to know when to quit. |
The ransom of a man’s life is his riches, but the poor hear no threats. | The rich can pay a ransom for their lives, but the poor won’t even get threatened. |
For they didn’t get the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them; but your right hand, your arm, and the light of your face, because you were favorable to them. | They did not conquer the land with their swords; it was not their own strong arm that gave them victory. It was your right hand and strong arm and the blinding light from your face that helped them, for you loved them. |
Wicked people earn deceitful wages, but one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward. | Evil people get rich for the moment, but the reward of the godly will last. |
Therefore, when you do merciful deeds, don’t sound a trumpet before yourself, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may get glory from men. Most certainly I tell you, they have received their reward. | When you give to someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get. |
But now, being made free from sin and having become servants of God, you have your fruit of sanctification and the result of eternal life. | But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life. |
So teach us to count our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. | Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom. |
Happy is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gets understanding. | Joyful is the person who finds wisdom, the one who gains understanding. |
He who gets wisdom loves his own soul. He who keeps understanding shall find good. | To acquire wisdom is to love yourself; people who cherish understanding will prosper. |
Every man who strives in the games exercises self-control in all things. Now they do it to receive a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible. | All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. |
The liberal soul shall be made fat. He who waters shall be watered also himself. | The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed. |
Now accept one who is weak in faith, but not for disputes over opinions. | Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don’t argue with them about what they think is right or wrong. |
You lust, and don’t have. You murder and covet, and can’t obtain. You fight and make war. You don’t have, because you don’t ask. | You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. |
Therefore, putting away all filthiness and overflowing of wickedness, receive with humility the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. | So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls. |
Establish my footsteps in your word. Don’t let any iniquity have dominion over me. | Guide my steps by your word, so I will not be overcome by evil. |
Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be given to you. For with the same measure you measure it will be measured back to you. | Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back. |
Don’t turn to the right hand nor to the left. Remove your foot from evil. | Don’t get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil. |
Remember this: he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly. He who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. | Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. |
But those who are determined to be rich fall into a temptation, a snare, and many foolish and harmful lusts, such as drown men in ruin and destruction. | But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. |
Open your mouth, judge righteously, and serve justice to the poor and needy. | Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice. |
A fool’s lips come into strife, and his mouth invites beatings. | Fools’ words get them into constant quarrels; they are asking for a beating. |