Who can find a worthy wife? She is far more precious than pearls. | A capable wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. |
Speak out for those who cannot speak for themselves, and defend the rights of the destitute. | Speak out for those who cannot speak, for the rights of all the destitute. |
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Speak out and pronounce righteous judgments; defend the rights of the wretched and the poor. | Speak out, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy. |
Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but the woman who fears the Lord is to 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; fools are those who despise wisdom and instruction. | The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction. |
If you would seriously consider my reproof, I would pour out my thoughts to you and make my precepts 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 himself is the one who bestows wisdom; from his mouth come forth knowledge and understanding. | For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. |
He reserves his wisdom for the upright and is a shield to those who lead blameless lives. | He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk blamelessly. |
For he guards the paths of justice and keeps watch over the way of his faithful ones. | Guarding the paths of justice and preserving the way of his faithful ones. |
Then you will understand equity and justice as well as righteousness—every good path. | Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path. |
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. | 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. |
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. | 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 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. | 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 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. | 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 wealth and with the firstfruits of all your crops. | Honor the Lord with your substance and with the first fruits of all your produce. |
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. | 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. |
Blessed is the person who has found wisdom, the one who has gained understanding. | Happy are those who find wisdom, and those who get understanding. |
Do not withhold kindness from anyone to whom it is due when it is in your power to grant it. | Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it. |
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. | 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. |
Acquire wisdom and gain understanding; never forget or turn aside from my words. | Get wisdom; get insight: do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth. |
The beginning of wisdom is: acquire wisdom, and no matter what the cost, acquire understanding. | The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever else you get, get insight. |
Listen, my son, and take my words to heart, and the years of your life will be multiplied. | Hear, my child, and accept my words, that the years of your life may be many. |
I have instructed you in the ways of wisdom and led you along the paths of righteousness. | I have taught you the way of wisdom; I have led you in the paths of uprightness. |
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. | 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. |
Guard your heart with all possible vigilance, for from it flow the wellsprings of life. | Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. |