An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. | Who can find a worthy wife? She is far more precious than pearls. |
Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute. | 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, defend the rights 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 vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to 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; fools despise wisdom and instruction. | The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools are those who despise wisdom and instruction. |
If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to 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 in integrity. | He reserves his wisdom for the upright and is a shield to those who lead blameless lives. |
Guarding the paths of justice and watching over 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 and equity, every good path. | Then you will understand equity and justice as well as righteousness—every good path. |
My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, for length of days and years of 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 steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good success 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 do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight 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. |
Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment 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 wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce. | Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your crops. |
My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, 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. |
Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets 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 your power to do it. | Do not withhold kindness from anyone to whom it is due when it is in your power to grant it. |
Do not envy a man of violence and do not choose any of his ways, for the devious person is an abomination to the Lord, but the upright are in his confidence. | 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 insight; do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth. | Acquire wisdom and gain understanding; never forget or turn aside from my words. |
The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight. | The beginning of wisdom is: acquire wisdom, and no matter what the cost, acquire understanding. |
Hear, my son, and accept my words, that the years of your life may be many. | Listen, my son, and take my words to heart, and the years of your life will be multiplied. |
I have taught you the way of wisdom; I have led you in the paths of uprightness. | I have instructed you in the ways of wisdom and led you along the paths of righteousness. |
My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within 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 vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. | Guard your heart with all possible vigilance, for from it flow the wellsprings of life. |