A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. | A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength. |
The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender. | Just as the rich rule the poor, so the borrower is servant to the lender. |
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Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues with injustice. | Better to have little, with godliness, than to be rich and dishonest. |
Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. | Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. |
Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the heart. | People may be right in their own eyes, but the Lord examines their heart. |
The reward for humility and fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life. | True humility and fear of the Lord lead to riches, honor, and long life. |
Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy. | Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice. |
There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death. | There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death. |
A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit. | Gentle words are a tree of life; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit. |
The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight. | Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do! And whatever else you do, develop good judgment. |
The vexation of a fool is known at once, but the prudent ignores an insult. | A fool is quick-tempered, but a wise person stays calm when insulted. |
A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother. | A wise child brings joy to a father; a foolish child brings grief to a mother. |
A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back. | Fools vent their anger, but the wise quietly hold it back. |
Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce. | Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce. |
Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid. | To learn, you must love discipline; it is stupid to hate correction. |
Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life. | Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life. |
My son, keep your father's commandment, and forsake not your mother's teaching. | My son, obey your father’s commands, and don’t neglect your mother’s instruction. |
To make an apt answer is a joy to a man, and a word in season, how good it is! | Everyone enjoys a fitting reply; it is wonderful to say the right thing at the right time! |
Before destruction a man's heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor. | Haughtiness goes before destruction; humility precedes honor. |
A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion. | Fools have no interest in understanding; they only want to air their own opinions. |
Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path. | Then you will understand what is right, just, and fair, and you will find the right way to go. |
Fine speech is not becoming to a fool; still less is false speech to a prince. | Eloquent words are not fitting for a fool; even less are lies fitting for a ruler. |
It is a snare to say rashly, “It is holy,” and to reflect only after making vows. | Don’t trap yourself by making a rash promise to God and only later counting the cost. |
The memory of the righteous is a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot. | We have happy memories of the godly, but the name of a wicked person rots away. |
A fool despises his father's instruction, but whoever heeds reproof is prudent. | Only a fool despises a parent’s discipline; whoever learns from correction is wise. |