For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous. | Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous. |
A person’s pride will bring him low, But a humble spirit will obtain honor. | Pride ends in humiliation, while humility brings honor. |
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The mind of a person plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps. | We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps. |
The steps of a man are established by the Lord, And He delights in his way. | The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. |
As in water a face reflects the face, So the heart of a person reflects the person. | As a face is reflected in water, so the heart reflects the real person. |
A person’s gift makes room for him And brings him before great people. | Giving a gift can open doors; it gives access to important people! |
The ransom of a person’s life is his wealth, But the poor hears no rebuke. | The rich can pay a ransom for their lives, but the poor won’t even get threatened. |
Many plans are in a person’s heart, But the advice of the Lord will stand. | You can make many plans, but the Lord’s purpose will prevail. |
A rich person’s wealth is his strong city, And like a high wall in his own imagination. | The rich think of their wealth as a strong defense; they imagine it to be a high wall of safety. |
Words from the mouth of a wise person are gracious, while the lips of a fool consume him. | Wise words bring approval, but fools are destroyed by their own words. |
Blessed are you when the people hate you, and when they exclude you, and insult you, and scorn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man. | What blessings await you when people hate you and exclude you and mock you and curse you as evil because you follow the Son of Man. |
Every person’s way is right in his own eyes, But the Lord examines the hearts. | People may be right in their own eyes, but the Lord examines their heart. |
Anxiety in a person’s heart weighs it down, But a good word makes it glad. | Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up. |
What is desirable in a person is his kindness, And it is better to be a poor person than a liar. | Loyalty makes a person attractive. It is better to be poor than dishonest. |
Behold, as for the impudent one, His soul is not right within him; But the righteous one will live by his faith. | Look at the proud! They trust in themselves, and their lives are crooked. But the righteous will live by their faithfulness to God. |
The conclusion, when everything has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. | That’s the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty. |
I have seen that every labor and every skill which is done is the result of rivalry between a person and his neighbor. This too is futility and striving after wind. | Then I observed that most people are motivated to success because they envy their neighbors. But this, too, is meaningless—like chasing the wind. |
But He said to them, “Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one is affluent does his life consist of his possessions.” | Then he said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.” |
If anyone thinks himself to be religious, yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this person’s religion is worthless. | If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless. |
But the gracious gift is not like the offense. For if by the offense of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many. | But there is a great difference between Adam’s sin and God’s gracious gift. For the sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ. |
I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and to do good in one’s lifetime; moreover, that every person who eats and drinks sees good in all his labor—this is the gift of God. | So I concluded there is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can. And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God. |