Avoid all perverse talk; stay away from corrupt speech. | Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you. |
Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. | Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. |
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Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path. | Keep straight the path of your feet, and all your ways will be sure. |
Don’t get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil. | Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil. |
My son, obey your father’s commands, and don’t neglect your mother’s instruction. | My child, keep your father's commandment, and do not forsake your mother's teaching. |
Can he walk on hot coals and not blister his feet? | Or can one walk on hot coals without scorching the feet? |
All who fear the Lord will hate evil. Therefore, I hate pride and arrogance, corruption and perverse speech. | The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate. |
For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the Lord. | For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the Lord. |
Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment. | The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. |
A wise child brings joy to a father; a foolish child brings grief to a mother. | A wise child makes a glad father, but a foolish child is a mother's grief. |
Tainted wealth has no lasting value, but right living can save your life. | Treasures gained by wickedness do not profit, but righteousness delivers from death. |
The godly are showered with blessings; the words of the wicked conceal violent intentions. | Blessings are on the head of the righteous, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence. |
We have happy memories of the godly, but the name of a wicked person rots away. | The memory of the righteous is a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot. |
The wise are glad to be instructed, but babbling fools fall flat on their faces. | The wise of heart will heed commandments, but a babbling fool will come to ruin. |
People with integrity walk safely, but those who follow crooked paths will be exposed. | Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever follows perverse ways will be found out. |
Hatred stirs up quarrels, but love makes up for all offenses. | Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses. |
People who accept discipline are on the pathway to life, but those who ignore correction will go astray. | Whoever heeds instruction is on the path to life, but one who rejects a rebuke goes astray. |
Hiding hatred makes you a liar; slandering others makes you a fool. | Lying lips conceal hatred, and whoever utters slander is a fool. |
Too much talk leads to sin. Be sensible and keep your mouth shut. | When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but the prudent are restrained in speech. |
The words of the godly are like sterling silver; the heart of a fool is worthless. | The tongue of the righteous is choice silver; the mind of the wicked is of little worth. |
The blessing of the Lord makes a person rich, and he adds no sorrow with it. | The blessing of the Lord makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it. |
The hopes of the godly result in happiness, but the expectations of the wicked come to nothing. | The hope of the righteous ends in gladness, but the expectation of the wicked comes to nothing. |
The way of the Lord is a stronghold to those with integrity, but it destroys the wicked. | The way of the Lord is a stronghold for the upright, but destruction for evildoers. |
The lips of the godly speak helpful words, but the mouth of the wicked speaks perverse words. | The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked what is perverse. |
Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. | When pride comes, then comes disgrace; but wisdom is with the humble. |