Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. | Turn away from the mouth that deceives and keep your distance from lips that mislead. |
Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. | Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze on what lies before you. |
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Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. | Ensure that the path you tread is level, and then your ways will be sure. |
Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil. | Do not swerve either to the right or to the left; keep your foot far from evil. |
My son, keep your father’s command and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. | Observe your father’s command, my son, and do not reject your mother’s teaching. |
Can a man walk on hot coals without his feet being scorched? | Or can a man walk on red-hot coals without scorching his feet? |
To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech. | The fear of the Lord implies hatred of evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil ways and perverse speech. |
For those who find me find life and receive 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. | The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. |
A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son brings grief to his mother. | A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son gives grief to his mother. |
Ill-gotten treasures have no lasting value, but righteousness delivers from death. | Treasures obtained by wicked means profit nothing, but a righteous life brings delivery from death. |
Blessings crown the head of the righteous, but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked. | Blessings are showered on the head of the righteous, but sorrow will cover the face of the wicked. |
The name of the righteous is used in blessings, but the name of the wicked will rot. | The righteous is remembered with blessings, but the name of the wicked fades away. |
The wise in heart accept commands, but a chattering fool comes to ruin. | A wise man will heed commandments, but a babbling fool will come to grief. |
Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out. | Anyone who leads an honorable life walks in safety, but whoever pursues wicked ways will be found out. |
Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs. | Hatred stirs up strife, but love overlooks all offenses. |
Whoever heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray. | Whoever heeds admonition is on the path to life, but anyone who rejects correction goes astray. |
Whoever conceals hatred with lying lips and spreads slander is a fool. | Lying lips conceal hatred, and anyone who slanders another is a fool. |
Sin is not ended by multiplying words, but the prudent hold their tongues. | Where many words are spoken, sin is not absent, but whoever restrains his tongue is prudent. |
The tongue of the righteous is choice silver, but the heart of the wicked is of little value. | The tongue of the just man is like pure silver; the heart of the wicked is without worth. |
The blessing of the Lord brings wealth, without painful toil for it. | The blessing of the Lord is what brings wealth, and our toil adds nothing to it. |
The prospect of the righteous is joy, but the hopes of the wicked come to nothing. | The hope of the righteous brings them joy, but the expectations of the wicked are frustrated. |
The way of the Lord is a refuge for the blameless, but it is the ruin of those who do evil. | The way of the Lord is a stronghold for the upright, but destruction for evildoers. |
The lips of the righteous know what finds favor, but the mouth of the wicked only what is perverse. | The lips of the righteous utter words of kindness, but the mouth of the wicked knows only how to pervert. |
When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. | When pride is nurtured, disgrace soon follows, but wisdom is the hallmark of the humble. |