Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies. | A capable wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. |
Open your mouth for the speechless, In the cause of all who are appointed to die. | Speak out for those who cannot speak, for the rights of all the destitute. |
|
Open your mouth, judge righteously, And plead the cause of the poor and needy. | Speak out, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy. |
Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised. | Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a 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 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. | Give heed to my reproof; I will pour out my thoughts to you; I will make my words known to you. |
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 uprightly. | He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk blamelessly. |
He guards the paths of justice, And preserves the way of His saints. | Guarding the paths of justice and preserving the way of his faithful ones. |
Then you will understand righteousness and justice, Equity and every good path. | Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, 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 child, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments; for length of days and years of life and abundant welfare they will give you. |
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 loyalty and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good repute in the sight of God and of people. |
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 in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. |
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 be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. It will be a healing for your flesh and a refreshment for your body. |
Honor the Lord with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase. | Honor the Lord with your substance and with the first fruits of all your produce. |
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 child, do not despise the Lord's discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the Lord reproves the one he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights. |
Happy is the man who finds wisdom, And the man who gains understanding. | Happy are those who find wisdom, and those who get 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 good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do 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 the violent and do not choose any of their ways; for the perverse are an abomination to the Lord, but the upright are in his confidence. |
Get wisdom! Get understanding! Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth. | Get wisdom; get insight: do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth. |
Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding. | The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever else you get, get insight. |
Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, And the years of your life will be many. | Hear, my child, and accept my words, that the years of your life may be many. |
I have taught you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in right paths. | I have taught you the way of wisdom; I have led you in the paths of uprightness. |
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 child, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. |
Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life. | Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. |