The desire of a man is his kindness: and a poor man is better than a liar. | What a person desires is unfailing love; better to be poor than a liar. |
The ransom of a man's life are his riches: but the poor heareth not rebuke. | A person’s riches may ransom their life, but the poor cannot respond to threatening rebukes. |
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My son, keep thy father's commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother. | My son, keep your father’s command and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. |
Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy. | Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy. |
A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards. | Fools give full vent to their rage, but the wise bring calm in the end. |
Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the Lord. | He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord. |
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. | Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding. |
Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many. | Listen, my son, accept what I say, and the years of your life will be many. |
Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee. | Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. |
For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. | For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. |
Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death. | Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death. |
Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility. | Before a downfall the heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor. |
Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the Lord pondereth the hearts. | A person may think their own ways are right, but the Lord weighs the heart. |
Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad. | Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up. |
Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones. | Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. |
Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivereth from death. | Ill-gotten treasures have no lasting value, but righteousness delivers from death. |
A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself. | Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. |
It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling. | It is to one’s honor to avoid strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel. |
A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones. | A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. |
In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury. | All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty. |
Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. | Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. |
He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool. | Whoever conceals hatred with lying lips and spreads slander is a fool. |
A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit. | Pride brings a person low, but the lowly in spirit gain honor. |
He coveteth greedily all the day long: but the righteous giveth and spareth not. | All day long he craves for more, but the righteous give without sparing. |
Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish. | Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but whoever hates correction is stupid. |