It is to one’s honor to avoid strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel. | It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarreling. |
Before a downfall the heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor. | Before destruction the heart of man is proud, but before honor is humility. |
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All day long he craves for more, but the righteous give without sparing. | There are those who covet greedily all day long; but the righteous give and don’t withhold. |
Listen, my son, accept what I say, and the years of your life will be many. | Listen, my son, and receive my sayings. The years of your life will be many. |
Then you will understand what is right and just and fair—every good path. | Then you will understand righteousness and justice, equity and every good path. |
Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. | Put away from yourself a perverse mouth. Put corrupt lips far from you. |
A person finds joy in giving an apt reply— and how good is a timely word! | Joy comes to a man with the reply of his mouth. How good is a word at the right time! |
Humility is the fear of the Lord; its wages are riches and honor and life. | The result of humility and the fear of Yahweh is wealth, honor, and life. |
For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. | For Yahweh gives wisdom. Out of his mouth comes knowledge and understanding. |
He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord. | Whoever finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor of Yahweh. |
Sin is not ended by multiplying words, but the prudent hold their tongues. | In the multitude of words there is no lack of disobedience, but he who restrains his lips does wisely. |
A person may think their own ways are right, but the Lord weighs the heart. | Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but Yahweh weighs the hearts. |
Better a little with the fear of the Lord than great wealth with turmoil. | Better is little, with the fear of Yahweh, than great treasure with trouble. |
A gift opens the way and ushers the giver into the presence of the great. | A man’s gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men. |
Wisdom’s instruction is to fear the Lord, and humility comes before honor. | The fear of Yahweh teaches wisdom. Before honor is humility. |
A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends. | A perverse man stirs up strife. A whisperer separates close friends. |
A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. | Who can find a worthy woman? For her value is far above rubies. |
There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death. | There is a way which seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death. |
Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn away from them. | Get wisdom. Get understanding. Don’t forget, and don’t deviate from the words of my mouth. |
Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm. | One who walks with wise men grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm. |
A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. | The liberal soul shall be made fat. He who waters shall be watered also himself. |
To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice. | To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to Yahweh than sacrifice. |
How much better to get wisdom than gold, to get insight rather than silver! | How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! Yes, to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver. |
A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. | A cheerful heart makes good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. |
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity. | A friend loves at all times; and a brother is born for adversity. |