The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked, what is perverse. | The lips of the righteous utter words of kindness, but the mouth of the wicked knows only how to pervert. |
A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends. | A perverse man sows strife, and a tale-bearer destroys close friendships. |
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Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you. | Turn away from the mouth that deceives and keep your distance from lips that mislead. |
The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate. | The fear of the Lord implies hatred of evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil ways and perverse speech. |
A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit. | A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, but an undisciplined tongue crushes the spirit. |
Do not envy a man of violence and do not choose any of his ways, for the devious person is an abomination to the Lord, but the upright are in his confidence. | Do not envy a violent man or choose to emulate any of his ways. For the perverse man is an abomination to the Lord whose friendship is bestowed only upon the upright. |
Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life. | Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may show yourselves blameless and beyond reproach, children of God without spot in the midst of an evil and depraved generation, among which you shine like lights in the world as you hold fast tenaciously to the word of life. |
Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out. | Anyone who leads an honorable life walks in safety, but whoever pursues wicked ways will be found out. |
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? “I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.” | The heart is more deceitful than any other thing, and it is also perverse. Who can uncover its secrets? I, the Lord, search the heart and probe the mind to reward all according to their conduct and as their deeds deserve. |
The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them. | The upright are guarded by their integrity; the treacherous are destroyed by their own duplicity. |
We have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and rules. | We have sinned and done what is wrong, we have acted wickedly and rebelled, we have rejected your commandments and your laws. |