| Good comes to those who lend money generously and conduct their business fairly. | It is well with the man who deals graciously and lends. He will maintain his cause in judgment. |
| A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences. | A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge; but the simple pass on, and suffer for it. |
| But consider the joy of those corrected by God! Do not despise the discipline of the Almighty when you sin. | Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects. Therefore do not despise the chastening of the Almighty. |
| God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. | Blessed is a person who endures temptation, for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord promised to those who love him. |
| “They will be my people,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “On the day when I act in judgment, they will be my own special treasure. I will spare them as a father spares an obedient child.” | “They shall be mine,” says Yahweh of Armies, “my own possession in the day that I make. I will spare them, as a man spares his own son who serves him.” |
| Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. | Blessed is the man who doesn’t walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand on the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers. |
| We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps. | A man’s heart plans his course, but Yahweh directs his steps. |
| To the faithful you show yourself faithful; to those with integrity you show integrity. | With the merciful you will show yourself merciful. With the perfect man, you will show yourself perfect. |
| A fool is quick-tempered, but a wise person stays calm when insulted. | A fool shows his annoyance the same day, but one who overlooks an insult is prudent. |
| There are “friends” who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother. | A man of many companions may be ruined, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. |
| A person without self-control is like a city with broken-down walls. | Like a city that is broken down and without walls is a man whose spirit is without restraint. |
| Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act. Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes. | Rest in Yahweh, and wait patiently for him. Don’t fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who makes wicked plots happen. |
| No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. | He has shown you, O man, what is good. What does Yahweh require of you, but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God? |
| The father of godly children has cause for joy. What a pleasure to have children who are wise. | The father of the righteous has great joy. Whoever fathers a wise child delights in him. |
| Above all, you must realize that no prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophet’s own understanding, or from human initiative. No, those prophets were moved by the Holy Spirit, and they spoke from God. | For no prophecy ever came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke, being moved by the Holy Spirit. |
| Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up. | Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down, but a kind word makes it glad. |
| Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.” | Looking at them, Jesus said, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” |
| And then he added, “It is what comes from inside that defiles you. For from within, out of a person’s heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. All these vile things come from within; they are what defile you.” | He said, “That which proceeds out of the man, that defiles the man. For from within, out of the hearts of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, sexual sins, murders, thefts, covetings, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, and foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile the man.” |
| Wise words bring approval, but fools are destroyed by their own words. | The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but a fool is swallowed by his own lips. |
| Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. | Don’t lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old man with his doings, and have put on the new man, who is being renewed in knowledge after the image of his Creator. |
| The rich think of their wealth as a strong defense; they imagine it to be a high wall of safety. | The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, like an unscalable wall in his own imagination. |
| Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God.” | Jesus, looking at them, said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God, for all things are possible with God.” |
| Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. | So, then, my beloved brothers, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger. |
| All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work. | Every Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness, that each person who belongs to God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. |
| With their words, the godless destroy their friends, but knowledge will rescue the righteous. | With his mouth the godless man destroys his neighbor, but the righteous will be delivered through knowledge. |
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