Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails. | The human mind may devise many plans, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will be established. |
For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. | For what human being knows what is truly human except the human spirit that is within? So also no one comprehends what is truly God's except the Spirit of God. |
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A person’s riches may ransom their life, but the poor cannot respond to threatening rebukes. | Wealth is a ransom for a person's life, but the poor get no threats. |
And I saw that all toil and all achievement spring from one person’s envy of another. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. | Then I saw that all toil and all skill in work come from one person's envy of another. This also is vanity and a chasing after wind. |
He went on: “What comes out of a person is what defiles them. For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and defile a person.” | And he said, “It is what comes out of a person that defiles. For it is from within, from the human heart, that evil intentions come: fornication, theft, murder, adultery, avarice, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, folly. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.” |
A gift opens the way and ushers the giver into the presence of the great. | A gift opens doors; it gives access to the great. |
Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up. | Anxiety weighs down the human heart, but a good word cheers it up. |
Pride brings a person low, but the lowly in spirit gain honor. | A person's pride will bring humiliation, but one who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor. |
A person may think their own ways are right, but the Lord weighs the heart. | All deeds are right in the sight of the doer, but the Lord weighs the heart. |
A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. | A cheerful heart is a good medicine, but a downcast spirit dries up the bones. |
The wealth of the rich is their fortified city; they imagine it a wall too high to scale. | The wealth of the rich is their strong city; in their imagination it is like a high wall. |
The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts. | The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body. |
Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. | If any think they are religious, and do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless. |