An excellent wife, who can find her? For her worth is far above jewels. | Who can find a worthy wife? She is far more precious than pearls. |
Open your mouth for the people who cannot speak, For the rights of all the unfortunate. | 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 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, 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; Fools despise wisdom and instruction. | The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools are those who despise wisdom and instruction. |
Turn to my rebuke, Behold, 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 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 He watches over the way of His godly ones. | For he guards the paths of justice and keeps watch over the way of his faithful ones. |
Then you will discern righteousness, justice, And integrity, and 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 have your heart comply with 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. |
Do not let kindness and truth leave you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and a good reputation 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 your paths straight. | 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 turn away from evil. It will be healing to your body 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 from your wealth, And from the first of all your produce. | Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your crops. |
My son, do not reject the discipline of the Lord Or loathe His rebuke, For whom the Lord loves He disciplines, Just as a father disciplines 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 a person who finds wisdom, And one who obtains 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 violent person, And do not choose any of his ways. For the devious are an abomination to the Lord; But He is intimate 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. |
Acquire wisdom! Acquire 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. |
The beginning of wisdom is: Acquire wisdom; And with all your possessions, acquire understanding. | The beginning of wisdom is: acquire wisdom, and no matter what the cost, acquire understanding. |
Listen, my son, and accept 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 instructed you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in upright paths. | I have instructed you in the ways of wisdom and led you along the paths of righteousness. |
My son, pay attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. They are not to escape from your sight; 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. |
Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life. | Guard your heart with all possible vigilance, for from it flow the wellsprings of life. |