A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. | A cheerful heart is excellent medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. |
The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender. | The wealthy man lords it over the poor, and the borrower becomes the slave of the lender. |
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Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues with injustice. | It is better to have little and be righteous than to acquire great riches with injustice. |
Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. | Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze on what lies before you. |
Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the heart. | A man’s ways may seem right to him, but the Lord weighs the heart. |
The reward for humility and fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life. | The reward of humility and fear of the Lord is wealth, honor, and life. |
Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy. | Speak out and pronounce righteous judgments; defend the rights of the wretched and the poor. |
There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death. | There is a way that seems right to a man, but the end of it leads to death. |
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. |
The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight. | The beginning of wisdom is: acquire wisdom, and no matter what the cost, acquire understanding. |
The vexation of a fool is known at once, but the prudent ignores an insult. | A fool is quick to show his anger, but a prudent man ignores an insult. |
A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother. | A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son gives grief to his mother. |
A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back. | A fool gives free rein to his anger, but a wise man bides his time and calms it. |
Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce. | Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your crops. |
Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid. | Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but the one who hates correction is stupid. |
Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life. | Hope deferred sickens the heart, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life. |
My son, keep your father's commandment, and forsake not your mother's teaching. | Observe your father’s command, my son, and do not reject your mother’s teaching. |
To make an apt answer is a joy to a man, and a word in season, how good it is! | A man is joyful when he utters apt answers, and even more satisfying is a word in season. |
Before destruction a man's heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor. | A man is haughty until disaster overtakes him, but humility comes before honors. |
A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion. | A fool takes no pleasure in understanding but only delights in expressing his own opinions. |
Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path. | Then you will understand equity and justice as well as righteousness—every good path. |
Fine speech is not becoming to a fool; still less is false speech to a prince. | Fine words are not becoming to a fool, and much less are false words to a noble. |
It is a snare to say rashly, “It is holy,” and to reflect only after making vows. | It is rash to pledge a sacred gift, or to make a vow and then have second thoughts. |
The memory of the righteous is a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot. | The righteous is remembered with blessings, but the name of the wicked fades away. |
A fool despises his father's instruction, but whoever heeds reproof is prudent. | A fool spurns his father’s correction, but whoever heeds admonition is prudent. |