Who can find a virtuous and capable wife? She is more precious than rubies. | Who can find a worthy wife? She is far more precious than pearls. |
Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life. | Hope deferred sickens the heart, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life. |
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The blessing of the Lord makes a person rich, and he adds no sorrow with it. | The blessing of the Lord is what brings wealth, and our toil adds nothing to it. |
Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble. | Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but he who mingles with fools will suffer harm. |
A troublemaker plants seeds of strife; gossip separates the best of friends. | A perverse man sows strife, and a tale-bearer destroys close friendships. |
Get wisdom; develop good judgment. Don’t forget my words or turn away from them. | Acquire wisdom and gain understanding; never forget or turn aside from my words. |
The name of the Lord is a strong fortress; the godly run to him and are safe. | The name of the Lord is a tower of strength; the upright man runs to it and finds refuge. |
Come and listen to my counsel. I’ll share my heart with you and make you wise. | If you would seriously consider my reproof, I would pour out my thoughts to you and make my precepts known to you. |
A wise child brings joy to a father; a foolish child brings grief to a mother. | A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son gives grief to his mother. |
We have happy memories of the godly, but the name of a wicked person rots away. | The righteous is remembered with blessings, but the name of the wicked fades away. |
Don’t wear yourself out trying to get rich. Be wise enough to know when to quit. | Do not wear yourself out in the pursuit of wealth, and cease even to think about it. |
The wise are glad to be instructed, but babbling fools fall flat on their faces. | A wise man will heed commandments, but a babbling fool will come to grief. |
My son, obey your father’s commands, and don’t neglect your mother’s instruction. | Observe your father’s command, my son, and do not reject your mother’s teaching. |
The man who finds a wife finds a treasure, and he receives favor from the Lord. | One who finds a wife finds happiness and receives favor from the Lord. |
Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce. | Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your crops. |
A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength. | A cheerful heart is excellent medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. |
Fools have no interest in understanding; they only want to air their own opinions. | A fool takes no pleasure in understanding but only delights in expressing his own opinions. |
The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed. | A generous person will be enriched; he who refreshes others will also be refreshed. |
The rich can pay a ransom for their lives, but the poor won’t even get threatened. | A wealthy man pays a ransom to save his life; a poor man never has to worry about such threats. |
Eloquent words are not fitting for a fool; even less are lies fitting for a ruler. | Fine words are not becoming to a fool, and much less are false words to a noble. |
The words of the godly are like sterling silver; the heart of a fool is worthless. | The tongue of the just man is like pure silver; the heart of the wicked is without worth. |
Riches won’t help on the day of judgment, but right living can save you from death. | Riches will be of no avail on the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death. |
Only a fool despises a parent’s discipline; whoever learns from correction is wise. | A fool spurns his father’s correction, but whoever heeds admonition is prudent. |
Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends. | One who forgives a misdeed fosters friendship, but he who divulges it separates good friends. |
People with understanding control their anger; a hot temper shows great foolishness. | A patient man shows good sense, but a quick-tempered man displays the height of folly. |