Honesty guides good people; dishonesty destroys treacherous people. | The integrity of the upright shall guide them, but the perverseness of the treacherous shall destroy them. |
Riches won’t help on the day of judgment, but right living can save you from death. | Riches don’t profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death. |
|
With their words, the godless destroy their friends, but knowledge will rescue the righteous. | With his mouth the godless man destroys his neighbor, but the righteous will be delivered through knowledge. |
A gossip goes around telling secrets, but those who are trustworthy can keep a confidence. | One who brings gossip betrays a confidence, but one who is of a trustworthy spirit is one who keeps a secret. |
Evil people get rich for the moment, but the reward of the godly will last. | Wicked people earn deceitful wages, but one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward. |
The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed. | The liberal soul shall be made fat. He who waters shall be watered also himself. |
To learn, you must love discipline; it is stupid to hate correction. | Whoever loves correction loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid. |
A fool is quick-tempered, but a wise person stays calm when insulted. | A fool shows his annoyance the same day, but one who overlooks an insult is prudent. |
Deceit fills hearts that are plotting evil; joy fills hearts that are planning peace! | Deceit is in the heart of those who plot evil, but joy comes to the promoters of peace. |
The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in those who tell the truth. | Lying lips are an abomination to Yahweh, but those who do the truth are his delight. |
Work hard and become a leader; be lazy and become a slave. | The hands of the diligent ones shall rule, but laziness ends in slave labor. |
Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up. | Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down, but a kind word makes it glad. |
Those who control their tongue will have a long life; opening your mouth can ruin everything. | He who guards his mouth guards his soul. One who opens wide his lips comes to ruin. |
The rich can pay a ransom for their lives, but the poor won’t even get threatened. | The ransom of a man’s life is his riches, but the poor hear no threats. |
Pride leads to conflict; those who take advice are wise. | Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is with people who take advice. |
Wealth from get-rich-quick schemes quickly disappears; wealth from hard work grows over time. | Wealth gained dishonestly dwindles away, but he who gathers by hand makes it grow. |
Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life. | Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when longing is fulfilled, it is a tree of life. |
Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble. | One who walks with wise men grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm. |
An honest witness does not lie; a false witness breathes lies. | A truthful witness will not lie, but a false witness pours out lies. |
There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death. | There is a way which seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death. |
Work brings profit, but mere talk leads to poverty! | In all hard work there is profit, but the talk of the lips leads only to poverty. |
People with understanding control their anger; a hot temper shows great foolishness. | He who is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a quick temper displays folly. |
Godliness makes a nation great, but sin is a disgrace to any people. | Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people. |
A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare. | A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. |
Gentle words are a tree of life; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit. | A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but deceit in it crushes the spirit. |