Excellent speech is not becoming to a fool, Much less lying lips to a prince. | Fine words are not becoming to a fool, and much less are false words to a noble. |
Let my teaching drop as the rain, My speech distill as the dew, As raindrops on the tender herb, And as showers on the grass. | Let my teaching fall down like rain, and my words descend like the dew. Like rain upon the sprouts, and like showers upon the grass. |
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The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, And night unto night reveals knowledge. | The heavens proclaim the glory of God; the firmament shows forth the work of his hands. One day imparts that message to the next, and night conveys that knowledge to night. |
Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one. | Conduct yourselves wisely toward outsiders, making the most of your opportunity. Let your speech always be gracious and seasoned with wisdom, so that you will know how to respond properly to all. |
The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverse mouth I hate. | The fear of the Lord implies hatred of evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil ways and perverse speech. |
Put away from you a deceitful mouth, And put perverse lips far from you. | Turn away from the mouth that deceives and keep your distance from lips that mislead. |
My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. | Dear children, let us love not in word or speech but in deed and truth. |
Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. | Let no one regard you with contempt because of your youth, but serve as an example to the believers in your speech and conduct, in your love, your faith, and your purity. |
Open your mouth for the speechless, In the cause of all who are appointed to die. | Speak out for those who cannot speak for themselves, and defend the rights of the destitute. |
In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, But he who restrains his lips is wise. | Where many words are spoken, sin is not absent, but whoever restrains his tongue is prudent. |
For “He who would love life And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit. Let him turn away from evil and do good; Let him seek peace and pursue it.” | For: “If anyone wishes to love life and to experience good days, he must restrain his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. He must turn away from evil and do good, seek peace and pursue it.” |
For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. | For all of us fall short in many ways. Anyone who never makes a mistake in speech has reached perfection and is able to control every part of his body. |
Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. | Let no foul word ever pass your lips. Say only what is useful for edification, so that your words may benefit your listeners. |