Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies. | Who can find a worthy wife? She is far more precious than pearls. |
Open your mouth for the speechless, In the cause of all who are appointed to die. | Speak out for those who cannot speak for themselves, and defend the rights of the destitute. |
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Open your mouth, judge righteously, And plead the cause of the poor and needy. | Speak out and pronounce righteous judgments; defend the rights of the wretched and the poor. |
Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised. | Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but the woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. |
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction. | The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools are those who despise wisdom and instruction. |
Turn at my rebuke; Surely I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you. | If you would seriously consider my reproof, I would pour out my thoughts to you and make my precepts known to you. |
For the Lord gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding. | For the Lord himself is the one who bestows wisdom; from his mouth come forth knowledge and understanding. |
He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk uprightly. | He reserves his wisdom for the upright and is a shield to those who lead blameless lives. |
He guards the paths of justice, And preserves the way of His saints. | For he guards the paths of justice and keeps watch over the way of his faithful ones. |
Then you will understand righteousness and justice, Equity and every good path. | Then you will understand equity and justice as well as righteousness—every good path. |
My son, do not forget my law, But let your heart keep my commands; For length of days and long life And peace they will add to you. | My son, do not forget my teaching, but cherish my commandments in your heart, for they will bring you length of days, more years of life, and an abundance of prosperity. |
Let not mercy and truth forsake you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart, And so find favor and high esteem In the sight of God and man. | Do not let kindness and fidelity leave you; fasten them around your neck and inscribe them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will gain favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. |
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. | Trust wholeheartedly in the Lord rather than relying on your own intelligence. In everything you do, acknowledge him, and he will see that your paths are straight. |
Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones. | Do not pride yourself on your own wisdom; fear the Lord and turn your back on evil. This will provide healing for your flesh and restore strength to your body. |
Honor the Lord with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase. | Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your crops. |
My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor detest His correction; For whom the Lord loves He corrects, Just as a father the son in whom he delights. | My son, do not ignore the Lord’s discipline or refuse to accept his rebuke. For the Lord disciplines those whom he loves, just as a father chastises a beloved son. |
Happy is the man who finds wisdom, And the man who gains understanding. | Blessed is the person who has found wisdom, the one who has gained understanding. |
Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, When it is in the power of your hand to do so. | Do not withhold kindness from anyone to whom it is due when it is in your power to grant it. |
Do not envy the oppressor, And choose none of his ways; For the perverse person is an abomination to the Lord, But His secret counsel is with the upright. | Do not envy a violent man or choose to emulate any of his ways. For the perverse man is an abomination to the Lord whose friendship is bestowed only upon the upright. |
Get wisdom! Get understanding! Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth. | Acquire wisdom and gain understanding; never forget or turn aside from my words. |
Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding. | The beginning of wisdom is: acquire wisdom, and no matter what the cost, acquire understanding. |
Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, And the years of your life will be many. | Listen, my son, and take my words to heart, and the years of your life will be multiplied. |
I have taught you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in right paths. | I have instructed you in the ways of wisdom and led you along the paths of righteousness. |
My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart. | My son, concentrate attentively on my words; pay heed to the instructions I pass on to you. Do not let them slip from your mind; keep them forever in your heart. |
Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life. | Guard your heart with all possible vigilance, for from it flow the wellsprings of life. |