Turn away from the mouth that deceives and keep your distance from lips that mislead. | Avoid all perverse talk; stay away from corrupt speech. |
Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze on what lies before you. | Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. |
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Ensure that the path you tread is level, and then your ways will be sure. | Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path. |
Do not swerve either to the right or to the left; keep your foot far from evil. | Don’t get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil. |
Observe your father’s command, my son, and do not reject your mother’s teaching. | My son, obey your father’s commands, and don’t neglect your mother’s instruction. |
Or can a man walk on red-hot coals without scorching his feet? | Can he walk on hot coals and not blister his feet? |
The fear of the Lord implies hatred of evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil ways and perverse speech. | All who fear the Lord will hate evil. Therefore, I hate pride and arrogance, corruption and perverse speech. |
For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the Lord. | For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the Lord. |
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. | Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment. |
A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son gives grief to his mother. | A wise child brings joy to a father; a foolish child brings grief to a mother. |
Treasures obtained by wicked means profit nothing, but a righteous life brings delivery from death. | Tainted wealth has no lasting value, but right living can save your life. |
Blessings are showered on the head of the righteous, but sorrow will cover the face of the wicked. | The godly are showered with blessings; the words of the wicked conceal violent intentions. |
The righteous is remembered with blessings, but the name of the wicked fades away. | We have happy memories of the godly, but the name of a wicked person rots away. |
A wise man will heed commandments, but a babbling fool will come to grief. | The wise are glad to be instructed, but babbling fools fall flat on their faces. |
Anyone who leads an honorable life walks in safety, but whoever pursues wicked ways will be found out. | People with integrity walk safely, but those who follow crooked paths will be exposed. |
Hatred stirs up strife, but love overlooks all offenses. | Hatred stirs up quarrels, but love makes up for all offenses. |
Whoever heeds admonition is on the path to life, but anyone who rejects correction goes astray. | People who accept discipline are on the pathway to life, but those who ignore correction will go astray. |
Lying lips conceal hatred, and anyone who slanders another is a fool. | Hiding hatred makes you a liar; slandering others makes you a fool. |
Where many words are spoken, sin is not absent, but whoever restrains his tongue is prudent. | Too much talk leads to sin. Be sensible and keep your mouth shut. |
The tongue of the just man is like pure silver; the heart of the wicked is without worth. | The words of the godly are like sterling silver; the heart of a fool is worthless. |
The blessing of the Lord is what brings wealth, and our toil adds nothing to it. | The blessing of the Lord makes a person rich, and he adds no sorrow with it. |
The hope of the righteous brings them joy, but the expectations of the wicked are frustrated. | The hopes of the godly result in happiness, but the expectations of the wicked come to nothing. |
The way of the Lord is a stronghold for the upright, but destruction for evildoers. | The way of the Lord is a stronghold to those with integrity, but it destroys the wicked. |
The lips of the righteous utter words of kindness, but the mouth of the wicked knows only how to pervert. | The lips of the godly speak helpful words, but the mouth of the wicked speaks perverse words. |
When pride is nurtured, disgrace soon follows, but wisdom is the hallmark of the humble. | Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. |