| Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent. | Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; if he closes his lips, he is regarded as intelligent. |
| For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. | For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the sake of the gospel will save it. |
| I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God's gift to man. | I understand that man’s greatest happiness is to be glad and do well throughout his life. And when we eat and drink and find satisfaction in all our labors, this is a gift of God. |
| So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. | Therefore, a Sabbath rest still remains for the people of God, since those who enter into God’s rest also cease from their own labors as God did from his. |
| For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? | What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his very life? Or what can he give in exchange for his life? |
| For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them. | For where two or three are gathered together in my name, I am there in their midst. |
| A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back. | A fool gives free rein to his anger, but a wise man bides his time and calms it. |
| Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices! | Wait quietly for the Lord and be patient until he comes. Do not fret over the man who prospers because of his evil schemes. |
| Whoever keeps the commandment keeps his life; he who despises his ways will die. | Whoever observes the commandments will live, but the one who scorns them will die. |
| The vexation of a fool is known at once, but the prudent ignores an insult. | A fool is quick to show his anger, but a prudent man ignores an insult. |
| But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. | And whoever does not provide for relatives, especially for those who are living with him, has disowned the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. |
| And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families. | God gave the midwives numerous families because they had feared God. |
| For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? | What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his very life? |
| Understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted. | Recognizing that laws are not designed for the upright. They are for the lawless and insubordinate, for the godless and sinful, for the unholy and irreligious; they are for those who slay their fathers and mothers, for murderers, for those who are fornicators, sodomites, slave traders, liars, perjurers, and for whatever else is contrary to the sound teaching that conforms to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which has been entrusted to me. |
| Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil—this is the gift of God. | Moreover, the one to whom God grants wealth and possessions and the ability to enjoy them and to find contentment in his toil receives a gift from God. |
| The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps. | A man may plan his own course, but the Lord makes his steps secure. |
| Do not envy a man of violence and do not choose any of his ways, for the devious person is an abomination to the Lord, but the upright are in his confidence. | Do not envy a violent man or choose to emulate any of his ways. For the perverse man is an abomination to the Lord whose friendship is bestowed only upon the upright. |
| The words of a wise man's mouth win him favor, but the lips of a fool consume him. | The words of a wise man win favor, but a fool’s tongue is his undoing. |
| For in much wisdom is much vexation, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow. | For much wisdom can result in much sorrow, and those who increase their knowledge also increase their grief. |
| A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion. | A fool takes no pleasure in understanding but only delights in expressing his own opinions. |
| For the customs of the peoples are vanity. A tree from the forest is cut down and worked with an axe by the hands of a craftsman. They decorate it with silver and gold; they fasten it with hammer and nails so that it cannot move. Their idols are like scarecrows in a cucumber field, and they cannot speak; they have to be carried, for they cannot walk. Do not be afraid of them, for they cannot do evil, neither is it in them to do good. | For the carved images of the nations are powerless; they are nothing more than wood cut from a forest, fashioned with a knife by craftsmen and embellished with silver and gold. Then they are fastened with hammers and nails to prevent them from toppling. Like scarecrows in a cucumber field they are unable to speak, and they must be carried from place to place since they cannot walk. Do not be afraid of them, for they can do no harm, nor do they have any power to do good. |
| The ransom of a man's life is his wealth, but a poor man hears no threat. | A wealthy man pays a ransom to save his life; a poor man never has to worry about such threats. |
| He will render to each one according to his works. | For God will repay everyone in accordance with what his deeds deserve. |
| Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. | Amen, amen, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. |
| Many shall purify themselves and make themselves white and be refined, but the wicked shall act wickedly. And none of the wicked shall understand, but those who are wise shall understand. | Many shall be purified, cleansed, and refined, but the wicked will persist in their evil ways. |
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