| Only a fool despises a parent’s discipline; whoever learns from correction is wise. | A fool spurns a parent’s discipline, but whoever heeds correction shows prudence. |
| Better to have little, with fear for the Lord, than to have great treasure and inner turmoil. | Better a little with the fear of the Lord than great wealth with turmoil. |
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| Plans go wrong for lack of advice; many advisers bring success. | Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed. |
| Everyone enjoys a fitting reply; it is wonderful to say the right thing at the right time! | A person finds joy in giving an apt reply— and how good is a timely word! |
| Fear of the Lord teaches wisdom; humility precedes honor. | Wisdom’s instruction is to fear the Lord, and humility comes before honor. |
| Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed. | Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans. |
| Better to have little, with godliness, than to be rich and dishonest. | Better a little with righteousness than much gain with injustice. |
| We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps. | In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps. |
| How much better to get wisdom than gold, and good judgment than silver! | How much better to get wisdom than gold, to get insight rather than silver! |
| Those who listen to instruction will prosper; those who trust the Lord will be joyful. | Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord. |
| Kind words are like honey— sweet to the soul and healthy for the body. | Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. |
| A troublemaker plants seeds of strife; gossip separates the best of friends. | A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends. |
| Better to be patient than powerful; better to have self-control than to conquer a city. | Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city. |
| Grandchildren are the crowning glory of the aged; parents are the pride of their children. | Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children. |
| Eloquent words are not fitting for a fool; even less are lies fitting for a ruler. | Eloquent lips are unsuited to a godless fool— how much worse lying lips to a ruler! |
| Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends. | Whoever would foster love covers over an offense, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends. |
| A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need. | A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity. |
| A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength. | A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. |
| Even fools are thought wise when they keep silent; with their mouths shut, they seem intelligent. | Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent, and discerning if they hold their tongues. |
| Fools have no interest in understanding; they only want to air their own opinions. | Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. |
| Fools’ words get them into constant quarrels; they are asking for a beating. | The lips of fools bring them strife, and their mouths invite a beating. |
| Rumors are dainty morsels that sink deep into one’s heart. | The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts. |
| The name of the Lord is a strong fortress; the godly run to him and are safe. | The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe. |
| The rich think of their wealth as a strong defense; they imagine it to be a high wall of safety. | The wealth of the rich is their fortified city; they imagine it a wall too high to scale. |
| Haughtiness goes before destruction; humility precedes honor. | Before a downfall the heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor. |
