Repent, and turn from all your transgressions, so that iniquity will not be your ruin. | Repent, and turn from your sins. Don’t let them destroy you! |
He who guards his mouth preserves his life, But he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction. | Those who control their tongue will have a long life; opening your mouth can ruin everything. |
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But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. | But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. |
The wise in heart will receive commands, But a prating fool will fall. | The wise are glad to be instructed, but babbling fools fall flat on their faces. |
A man who has friends must himself be friendly, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. | There are “friends” who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother. |
The Lord watches over the strangers; He relieves the fatherless and widow; But the way of the wicked He turns upside down. | The Lord protects the foreigners among us. He cares for the orphans and widows, but he frustrates the plans of the wicked. |
The way of the Lord is strength for the upright, But destruction will come to the workers of iniquity. | The way of the Lord is a stronghold to those with integrity, but it destroys the wicked. |
Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.” | Don’t be fooled by those who say such things, for “bad company corrupts good character.” |
The hypocrite with his mouth destroys his neighbor, But through knowledge the righteous will be delivered. | With their words, the godless destroy their friends, but knowledge will rescue the righteous. |
Can a woman forget her nursing child, And not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, Yet I will not forget you. See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; Your walls are continually before Me. | Never! Can a mother forget her nursing child? Can she feel no love for the child she has borne? But even if that were possible, I would not forget you! See, I have written your name on the palms of my hands. Always in my mind is a picture of Jerusalem’s walls in ruins. |