Keep deception and lies far from me, Give me neither poverty nor riches; Feed me with the food that is my portion. | Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. |
Open your mouth for the people who cannot speak, For the rights of all the unfortunate. | Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. |
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Open your mouth, judge righteously, And defend the rights of the poor and needy. | Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy. |
An excellent wife, who can find her? For her worth is far above jewels. | A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. |
Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised. | Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. |
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction. | The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. |
Turn to my rebuke, Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you. | Repent at my rebuke! Then I will pour out my thoughts to you, I will make known to you my teachings. |
For the Lord gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding. | For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. |
He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk in integrity. | He holds success in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless. |
Guarding the paths of justice, And He watches over the way of His godly ones. | For he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones. |
Then you will discern righteousness, justice, And integrity, and every good path. | Then you will understand what is right and just and fair—every good path. |