| A person’s gift makes room for him And brings him before great people. | A gift opens the way and ushers the giver into the presence of the great. |
| Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit. | The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. |
|
| 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. |
| A person of too many friends comes to ruin, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. | One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. |
| One who gets wisdom loves his own soul; One who keeps understanding will find good. | The one who gets wisdom loves life; the one who cherishes understanding will soon prosper. |
| House and wealth are an inheritance from fathers, But a prudent wife is from the Lord. | Houses and wealth are inherited from parents, but a prudent wife is from the Lord. |
| One who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, But one who is careless of conduct will die. | Whoever keeps commandments keeps their life, but whoever shows contempt for their ways will die. |
| Many plans are in a person’s heart, But the advice of the Lord will stand. | Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails. |
| What is desirable in a person is his kindness, And it is better to be a poor person than a liar. | What a person desires is unfailing love; better to be poor than a liar. |
| Avoiding strife is an honor for a person, But any fool will quarrel. | It is to one’s honor to avoid strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel. |
| It is a trap for a person to say carelessly, “It is holy!” And after the vows to make inquiry. | It is a trap to dedicate something rashly and only later to consider one’s vows. |
| Every person’s way is right in his own eyes, But the Lord examines the hearts. | A person may think their own ways are right, but the Lord weighs the heart. |
| To do righteousness and justice Is preferred by the Lord more than sacrifice. | To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice. |
| One who pursues righteousness and loyalty Finds life, righteousness, and honor. | Whoever pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor. |
| All day long he is craving, While the righteous gives and does not hold back. | All day long he craves for more, but the righteous give without sparing. |
| A good name is to be more desired than great wealth; Favor is better than silver and gold. | A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold. |
| The reward of humility and the fear of the Lord Are riches, honor, and life. | Humility is the fear of the Lord; its wages are riches and honor and life. |
| Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he grows older he will not abandon it. | Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it. |
| The rich rules over the poor, And the borrower becomes the lender’s slave. | The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender. |
| Do not weary yourself to gain wealth; Stop dwelling on it. | Do not wear yourself out to get rich; do not trust your own cleverness. |
| When you set your eyes on it, it is gone. For wealth certainly makes itself wings Like an eagle that flies toward the heavens. | Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle. |
| My son, if your heart is wise, My own heart also will be glad. | My son, if your heart is wise, then my heart will be glad indeed. |
| The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice, And he who fathers a wise son will be glad in him. | The father of a righteous child has great joy; a man who fathers a wise son rejoices in him. |
| Know that wisdom is the same for your soul; If you find it, then there will be a future, And your hope will not be cut off. | Know also that wisdom is like honey for you: If you find it, there is a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off. |
| Like a city that is broken into and without walls So is a person who has no self-control over his spirit. | Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control. |
