A gift opens the way and ushers the giver into the presence of the great. | A man’s gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men. |
The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. | Death and life are in the power of the tongue; those who love it will eat its fruit. |
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He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord. | Whoever finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor of Yahweh. |
One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. | A man of many companions may be ruined, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. |
The one who gets wisdom loves life; the one who cherishes understanding will soon prosper. | He who gets wisdom loves his own soul. He who keeps understanding shall find good. |
Houses and wealth are inherited from parents, but a prudent wife is from the Lord. | House and riches are an inheritance from fathers, but a prudent wife is from Yahweh. |
Whoever keeps commandments keeps their life, but whoever shows contempt for their ways will die. | He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, but he who is contemptuous in his ways shall die. |
Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails. | There are many plans in a man’s heart, but Yahweh’s counsel will prevail. |
What a person desires is unfailing love; better to be poor than a liar. | That which makes a man to be desired is his kindness. A poor man is better than a liar. |
It is to one’s honor to avoid strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel. | It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarreling. |
It is a trap to dedicate something rashly and only later to consider one’s vows. | It is a snare to a man to make a rash dedication, then later to consider his vows. |
A person may think their own ways are right, but the Lord weighs the heart. | Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but Yahweh weighs the hearts. |
To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice. | To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to Yahweh than sacrifice. |
Whoever pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor. | He who follows after righteousness and kindness finds life, righteousness, and honor. |
All day long he craves for more, but the righteous give without sparing. | There are those who covet greedily all day long; but the righteous give and don’t withhold. |
A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold. | A good name is more desirable than great riches, and loving favor is better than silver and gold. |
Humility is the fear of the Lord; its wages are riches and honor and life. | The result of humility and the fear of Yahweh is wealth, honor, and life. |
Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it. | Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it. |
The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender. | The rich rule over the poor. The borrower is servant to the lender. |
Do not wear yourself out to get rich; do not trust your own cleverness. | Don’t weary yourself to be rich. In your wisdom, show restraint. |
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. | Why do you set your eyes on that which is not? For it certainly sprouts wings like an eagle and flies in the sky. |
My son, if your heart is wise, then my heart will be glad indeed. | My son, if your heart is wise, then my heart will be glad, even mine. |
The father of a righteous child has great joy; a man who fathers a wise son rejoices in him. | The father of the righteous has great joy. Whoever fathers a wise child delights in him. |
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. | So you shall know wisdom to be to your soul. If you have found it, then there will be a reward: Your hope will not be cut off. |
Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control. | Like a city that is broken down and without walls is a man whose spirit is without restraint. |