Diligent hands will rule, but laziness ends in forced labor. | Authority will be granted to the diligent, but the lazy will be enslaved. |
Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up. | Anxiety in the human heart weighs it down, but a kind word makes it glad. |
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Those who guard their lips preserve their lives, but those who speak rashly will come to ruin. | He who guards his mouth makes his life secure, but one who talks excessively ensures his own downfall. |
A person’s riches may ransom their life, but the poor cannot respond to threatening rebukes. | A wealthy man pays a ransom to save his life; a poor man never has to worry about such threats. |
Where there is strife, there is pride, but wisdom is found in those who take advice. | An ignorant man causes strife by his insolence, but wisdom is found with those who take advice. |
Dishonest money dwindles away, but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow. | Wealth hastily acquired will dwindle away, but when amassed little by little, it will increase. |
Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life. | Hope deferred sickens the heart, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life. |
Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm. | Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but he who mingles with fools will suffer harm. |
An honest witness does not deceive, but a false witness pours out lies. | A truthful witness does not lie, but a false witness lies incessantly. |
There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death. | There is a way that seems right to a man, but the end of it leads to death. |
All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty. | Diligent labor always yields profit, but idle conversation only leads to poverty. |
Whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly. | A patient man shows good sense, but a quick-tempered man displays the height of folly. |
Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin condemns any people. | Righteousness is a sign of a nation’s greatness, but sin degrades any people. |
A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. | A gentle reply turns away wrath, but a harsh word arouses anger. |
The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit. | A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, but an undisciplined tongue crushes the spirit. |
A fool spurns a parent’s discipline, but whoever heeds correction shows prudence. | A fool spurns his father’s correction, but whoever heeds admonition is prudent. |
Better a little with the fear of the Lord than great wealth with turmoil. | It is better to have a little and fear the Lord than to possess immense wealth and suffer anguish. |
Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed. | Plans miscarry when counsel is lacking, but they succeed when there are many counselors. |
A person finds joy in giving an apt reply— and how good is a timely word! | A man is joyful when he utters apt answers, and even more satisfying is a word in season. |
Wisdom’s instruction is to fear the Lord, and humility comes before honor. | The fear of the Lord provides instruction in wisdom, and to be humble is the way to honor. |
Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans. | Entrust everything that you do to the Lord, and your plans will turn out to be successful. |
Better a little with righteousness than much gain with injustice. | It is better to have little and be righteous than to acquire great riches with injustice. |
In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps. | A man may plan his own course, but the Lord makes his steps secure. |
How much better to get wisdom than gold, to get insight rather than silver! | It is better to acquire wisdom rather than gold, and more desirable to acquire understanding rather than silver. |
Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord. | The one who pays heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord. |