Pleasant words are a honeycomb, Sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. | Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. |
A perverse person spreads strife, And a slanderer separates close friends. | A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends. |
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One who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And one who rules his spirit, than one who captures a city. | Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city. |
Grandchildren are the crown of the old, And the glory of sons is their fathers. | Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children. |
Excellent speech is not fitting for a fool, Much less are lying lips to a prince. | Eloquent lips are unsuited to a godless fool— how much worse lying lips to a ruler! |
One who conceals an offense seeks love, But one who repeats a matter separates close friends. | Whoever would foster love covers over an offense, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends. |
A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity. | A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity. |
A joyful heart is good medicine, But a broken spirit dries up the bones. | A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. |
Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise; When he closes his lips, he is considered prudent. | Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent, and discerning if they hold their tongues. |
A fool does not delight in understanding, But in revealing his own mind. | Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. |
A fool’s lips bring strife, And his mouth invites beatings. | The lips of fools bring them strife, and their mouths invite a beating. |
The words of a gossiper are like dainty morsels, And they go down into the innermost parts of the body. | The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts. |
The name of the Lord is a strong tower; The righteous runs into it and is safe. | The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe. |
A rich person’s wealth is his strong city, And like a high wall in his own imagination. | The wealth of the rich is their fortified city; they imagine it a wall too high to scale. |
Before destruction the heart of a person is haughty, But humility goes before honor. | Before a downfall the heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor. |
A person’s gift makes room for him And brings him before great people. | A gift opens the way and ushers the giver into the presence of the great. |
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit. | The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. |
He who finds a wife finds a good thing And obtains favor from the Lord. | He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord. |
A person of too many friends comes to ruin, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. | One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. |
One who gets wisdom loves his own soul; One who keeps understanding will find good. | The one who gets wisdom loves life; the one who cherishes understanding will soon prosper. |
House and wealth are an inheritance from fathers, But a prudent wife is from the Lord. | Houses and wealth are inherited from parents, but a prudent wife is from the Lord. |
One who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, But one who is careless of conduct will die. | Whoever keeps commandments keeps their life, but whoever shows contempt for their ways will die. |
Many plans are in a person’s heart, But the advice of the Lord will stand. | Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails. |
What is desirable in a person is his kindness, And it is better to be a poor person than a liar. | What a person desires is unfailing love; better to be poor than a liar. |
Avoiding strife is an honor for a person, But any fool will quarrel. | It is to one’s honor to avoid strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel. |