The clever see danger and hide; but the simple go on, and suffer for it. | The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty. |
Better is a little with righteousness than large income with injustice. | Better a little with righteousness than much gain with injustice. |
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Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. | Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. |
Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil. | Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil. |
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. |
Speak out for those who cannot speak, for the rights of all the destitute. | Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. |
Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. | Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. |
For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. | For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. |
The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender. | The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender. |
A wise child makes a glad father, but a foolish child is a mother's grief. | A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son brings grief to his mother. |
Guarding the paths of justice and preserving the way of his faithful ones. | For he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones. |
Before destruction one's heart is haughty, but humility goes before honor. | Before a downfall the heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor. |
It is honorable to refrain from strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel. | It is to one’s honor to avoid strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel. |
The reward for humility and fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life. | Humility is the fear of the Lord; its wages are riches and honor and life. |
A perverse person spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends. | A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends. |
Hear, my child, and accept my words, that the years of your life may be many. | Listen, my son, accept what I say, and the years of your life will be many. |
When one will not listen to the law, even one's prayers are an abomination. | If anyone turns a deaf ear to my instruction, even their prayers are detestable. |
A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit. | The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit. |
All deeds are right in the sight of the doer, but the Lord weighs the heart. | A person may think their own ways are right, but the Lord weighs the heart. |
All day long the wicked covet, but the righteous give and do not hold back. | All day long he craves for more, but the righteous give without sparing. |
A generous person will be enriched, and one who gives water will get water. | A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. |
Fine speech is not becoming to a fool; still less is false speech to a ruler. | Eloquent lips are unsuited to a godless fool— how much worse lying lips to a ruler! |
There is a way that seems right to a person, but its end is the way to death. | There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death. |
Get wisdom; get insight: do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth. | Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn away from them. |
Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path. | Then you will understand what is right and just and fair—every good path. |