The clever see danger and hide; but the simple go on, and suffer for it. | A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences. |
Better is a little with righteousness than large income with injustice. | Better to have little, with godliness, than to be rich and dishonest. |
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Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. | Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. |
Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil. | Don’t get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil. |
He who finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor from the Lord. | The man who finds a wife finds a treasure, and he 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; ensure justice for those being crushed. |
Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. | Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. |
For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. | For the Lord grants wisdom! From his mouth come knowledge and understanding. |
The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender. | Just as the rich rule the poor, so the borrower is servant to the lender. |
A wise child makes a glad father, but a foolish child is a mother's grief. | A wise child brings joy to a father; a foolish child brings grief to a mother. |
Guarding the paths of justice and preserving the way of his faithful ones. | He guards the paths of the just and protects those who are faithful to him. |
Before destruction one's heart is haughty, but humility goes before honor. | Haughtiness goes before destruction; humility precedes honor. |
It is honorable to refrain from strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel. | Avoiding a fight is a mark of honor; only fools insist on quarreling. |
The reward for humility and fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life. | True humility and fear of the Lord lead to riches, honor, and long life. |
A perverse person spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends. | A troublemaker plants seeds of strife; gossip separates the best of friends. |
Hear, my child, and accept my words, that the years of your life may be many. | My child, listen to me and do as I say, and you will have a long, good life. |
When one will not listen to the law, even one's prayers are an abomination. | God detests the prayers of a person who ignores the law. |
A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit. | Gentle words are a tree of life; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit. |
All deeds are right in the sight of the doer, but the Lord weighs the heart. | People may be right in their own eyes, but the Lord examines their heart. |
All day long the wicked covet, but the righteous give and do not hold back. | Some people are always greedy for more, but the godly love to give! |
A generous person will be enriched, and one who gives water will get water. | The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed. |
Fine speech is not becoming to a fool; still less is false speech to a ruler. | Eloquent words are not fitting for a fool; even less are lies fitting for a ruler. |
There is a way that seems right to a person, but its end is the way to death. | There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death. |
Get wisdom; get insight: do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth. | Get wisdom; develop good judgment. Don’t 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, just, and fair, and you will find the right way to go. |