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