| The integrity of the upright will guide them, But the perversity of the treacherous will destroy them. | Honesty guides good people; dishonesty destroys treacherous people. |
| “Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked,” declares the Lord God, “rather than that he would turn from his ways and live?” | Do you think that I like to see wicked people die? says the Sovereign Lord. Of course not! I want them to turn from their wicked ways and live. |
| Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise; When he closes his lips, he is considered prudent. | Even fools are thought wise when they keep silent; with their mouths shut, they seem intelligent. |
| For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. | If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it. |
| I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and to do good in one’s lifetime; moreover, that every person who eats and drinks sees good in all his labor—this is the gift of God. | So I concluded there is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can. And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God. |
| Consequently, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His. | So there is a special rest still waiting for the people of God. For all who have entered into God’s rest have rested from their labors, just as God did after creating the world. |
| For what good will it do a person if he gains the whole world, but forfeits his soul? Or what will a person give in exchange for his soul? | And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul? |
| The heavens tell of the glory of God; And their expanse declares the work of His hands. Day to day pours forth speech, And night to night reveals knowledge. | The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known. |
| A fool always loses his temper, But a wise person holds it back. | Fools vent their anger, but the wise quietly hold it back. |
| Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him; Do not get upset because of one who is successful in his way, Because of the person who carries out wicked schemes. | Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act. Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes. |
| One who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, But one who is careless of conduct will die. | Keep the commandments and keep your life; despising them leads to death. |
| A fool’s anger is known at once, But a prudent person conceals dishonor. | A fool is quick-tempered, but a wise person stays calm when insulted. |
| But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. | But those who won’t care for their relatives, especially those in their own household, have denied the true faith. Such people are worse than unbelievers. |
| And because the midwives feared God, He established households for them. | And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families of their own. |
| For what does it benefit a person to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul? | And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? |
| Realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous person but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and worldly, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, for the sexually immoral, homosexuals, slave traders, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching, according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted. | For the law was not intended for people who do what is right. It is for people who are lawless and rebellious, who are ungodly and sinful, who consider nothing sacred and defile what is holy, who kill their father or mother or commit other murders. The law is for people who are sexually immoral, or who practice homosexuality, or are slave traders, liars, promise breakers, or who do anything else that contradicts the wholesome teaching that comes from the glorious Good News entrusted to me by our blessed God. |
| Furthermore, as for every person to whom God has given riches and wealth, He has also given him the opportunity to enjoy them and to receive his reward and rejoice in his labor; this is the gift of God. | And it is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it. To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life—this is indeed a gift from God. |
| The mind of a person plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps. | We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps. |
| Do not envy a violent person, And do not choose any of his ways. For the devious are an abomination to the Lord; But He is intimate with the upright. | Don’t envy violent people or copy their ways. Such wicked people are detestable to the Lord, but he offers his friendship to the godly. |
| Words from the mouth of a wise person are gracious, while the lips of a fool consume him. | Wise words bring approval, but fools are destroyed by their own words. |
| Because in much wisdom there is much grief; and increasing knowledge results in increasing pain. | The greater my wisdom, the greater my grief. To increase knowledge only increases sorrow. |
| A fool does not delight in understanding, But in revealing his own mind. | Fools have no interest in understanding; they only want to air their own opinions. |
| The ransom of a person’s life is his wealth, But the poor hears no rebuke. | The rich can pay a ransom for their lives, but the poor won’t even get threatened. |
| Who will repay each person according to his deeds. | He will judge everyone according to what they have done. |
| Truly, truly I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him. | I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message. |
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