| A man’s gift makes room for him, And brings him before great men. | A gift opens the way and ushers the giver into the presence of the great. |
| As in water face reflects face, So a man’s heart reveals the man. | As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart. |
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| A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity. | A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity. |
| Ponder the path of your feet, And let all your ways be established. | Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. |
| He guards the paths of justice, And preserves the way of His saints. | For he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones. |
| A fool’s lips enter into contention, And his mouth calls for blows. | The lips of fools bring them strife, and their mouths invite a beating. |
| Do not overwork to be rich; Because of your own understanding, cease! | Do not wear yourself out to get rich; do not trust your own cleverness. |
| By humility and the fear of the Lord Are riches and honor and life. | Humility is the fear of the Lord; its wages are riches and honor and life. |
| Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a reproach to any people. | Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin condemns any people. |
| Commit your works to the Lord, And your thoughts will be established. | Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans. |
| A faithful witness does not lie, But a false witness will utter lies. | An honest witness does not deceive, but a false witness pours out lies. |
| My son, if your heart is wise, My heart will rejoice—indeed, I myself. | My son, if your heart is wise, then my heart will be glad indeed. |
| In all labor there is profit, But idle chatter leads only to poverty. | All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty. |
| The wise in heart will receive commands, But a prating fool will fall. | The wise in heart accept commands, but a chattering fool comes to ruin. |
| I have taught you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in right paths. | I instruct you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths. |
| Happy is the man who finds wisdom, And the man who gains understanding. | Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding. |
| The blessing of the Lord makes one rich, And He adds no sorrow with it. | The blessing of the Lord brings wealth, without painful toil for it. |
| By pride comes nothing but strife, But with the well-advised is wisdom. | Where there is strife, there is pride, but wisdom is found in those who take advice. |
| As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend. | As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. |
| The rich rules over the poor, And the borrower is servant to the lender. | The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender. |
| A fool has no delight in understanding, But in expressing his own heart. | Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. |
| Put away from you a deceitful mouth, And put perverse lips far from you. | Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. |
| He who finds a wife finds a good thing, And obtains favor from the Lord. | He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord. |
| For the Lord gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding. | For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. |
| Better is a little with righteousness, Than vast revenues without justice. | Better a little with righteousness than much gain with injustice. |
