A fool spurns a parent’s discipline, but whoever heeds correction shows prudence. | A fool despises his father’s correction, but he who heeds reproof shows prudence. |
Better a little with the fear of the Lord than great wealth with turmoil. | Better is little, with the fear of Yahweh, than great treasure with trouble. |
|
Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed. | Where there is no counsel, plans fail; but in a multitude of counselors they are established. |
A person finds joy in giving an apt reply— and how good is a timely word! | Joy comes to a man with the reply of his mouth. How good is a word at the right time! |
Wisdom’s instruction is to fear the Lord, and humility comes before honor. | The fear of Yahweh teaches wisdom. Before honor is humility. |
Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans. | Commit your deeds to Yahweh, and your plans shall succeed. |
Better a little with righteousness than much gain with injustice. | Better is a little with righteousness, than great revenues with injustice. |
In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps. | A man’s heart plans his course, but Yahweh directs his steps. |
How much better to get wisdom than gold, to get insight rather than silver! | How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! Yes, to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver. |
Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord. | He who heeds the Word finds prosperity. Whoever trusts in Yahweh is blessed. |
Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. | Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones. |
A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends. | A perverse man stirs up strife. A whisperer separates close friends. |
Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city. | One who is slow to anger is better than the mighty; one who rules his spirit, than he who takes a city. |
Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children. | Children’s children are the crown of old men; the glory of children is their parents. |
Eloquent lips are unsuited to a godless fool— how much worse lying lips to a ruler! | Excellent speech isn’t fitting for a fool, much less do lying lips fit a prince. |
Whoever would foster love covers over an offense, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends. | He who covers an offense promotes love; but he who repeats a matter separates best friends. |
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity. | A friend loves at all times; and a brother is born for adversity. |
A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. | A cheerful heart makes good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. |
Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent, and discerning if they hold their tongues. | Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is counted wise. When he shuts his lips, he is thought to be discerning. |
Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. | A fool has no delight in understanding, but only in revealing his own opinion. |
The lips of fools bring them strife, and their mouths invite a beating. | A fool’s lips come into strife, and his mouth invites beatings. |
The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts. | The words of a gossip are like dainty morsels: they go down into a person’s innermost parts. |
The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe. | Yahweh’s name is a strong tower: the righteous run to him, and are safe. |
The wealth of the rich is their fortified city; they imagine it a wall too high to scale. | The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, like an unscalable wall in his own imagination. |
Before a downfall the heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor. | Before destruction the heart of man is proud, but before honor is humility. |