Better is the little that the righteous has than the abundance of many wicked. For the arms of the wicked shall be broken, but the Lord upholds the righteous. | Preferable is the little that the righteous possess than the great wealth of the wicked. For the power of the wicked will be overcome, but the Lord protects the righteous. |
The memory of the righteous is a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot. | The righteous is remembered with blessings, but the name of the wicked fades away. |
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The wicked borrows but does not pay back, but the righteous is generous and gives. | The wicked man borrows but neglects to repay, whereas the righteous man is generous in giving. |
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. |
The hope of the righteous brings joy, but the expectation of the wicked will perish. | The hope of the righteous brings them joy, but the expectations of the wicked are frustrated. |
Blessings are on the head of the righteous, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence. | Blessings are showered on the head of the righteous, but sorrow will cover the face of the wicked. |
The wicked earns deceptive wages, but one who sows righteousness gets a sure reward. | The labors of the wicked man produce little profit, but the one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward. |
The tongue of the righteous is choice silver; the heart of the wicked is of little worth. | The tongue of the just man is like pure silver; the heart of the wicked is without worth. |
The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked, what is perverse. | The lips of the righteous utter words of kindness, but the mouth of the wicked knows only how to pervert. |
O you who love the Lord, hate evil! He preserves the lives of his saints; he delivers them from the hand of the wicked. | Let those who love the Lord hate evil, for he protects the souls of his faithful ones and rescues them from the hand of the wicked. |
The Lord watches over the sojourners; he upholds the widow and the fatherless, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin. | The Lord watches over the stranger and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but he blocks the way of the wicked. |
Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord God, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live? | Do I derive any pleasure from the death of the wicked? asks the Lord God. Would I not rather rejoice to see them turn away from their wickedness and live? |
For the Lord loves justice; he will not forsake his saints. They are preserved forever, but the children of the wicked shall be cut off. | For the Lord loves the just, and he will not forsake his faithful ones. Those who follow evil paths will be destroyed, and the children of the wicked will be cut off. |
Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers. | Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the way of sinners, nor sit in the company of scoffers. |
But if a wicked person turns away from all his sins that he has committed and keeps all my statutes and does what is just and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die. | However, if the wicked renounce all of the sins that they have committed and keep all my statutes and do what is right and just, they shall surely live; they shall not die. |
Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. | Let the wicked abandon their ways and those who are evil their thoughts. Let them return to the Lord so that he may have mercy upon them; and to our God, for he is rich in forgiveness. |
If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. | And if then my people who bear my name humble themselves and pray to me and seek my presence as they turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear them from heaven and forgive their sins and restore their land. |
Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting! | Examine me, O God, and know my heart; test me and understand my thoughts. See if I follow an evil way, and guide me on the way to eternity. |
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. |
God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness. | When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you, to bless you by turning each one of you from your wicked ways. |
All day long he craves and craves, but the righteous gives and does not hold back. | All day long the godless man continues to covet, whereas the righteous man gives unsparingly. |
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? “I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.” | The heart is more deceitful than any other thing, and it is also perverse. Who can uncover its secrets? I, the Lord, search the heart and probe the mind to reward all according to their conduct and as their deeds deserve. |
The Lord is slow to anger and great in power, and the Lord will by no means clear the guilty. His way is in whirlwind and storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet. | The Lord is slow to anger but great in power, and he will never allow the guilty to escape punishment. He makes his way in whirlwind and storm, and the clouds are the dust beneath his feet. |
For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness. | It is better to spend one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in God’s house than dwell inside the tents of the wicked. |
And a highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Way of Holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it. It shall belong to those who walk on the way; even if they are fools, they shall not go astray. | A highway will be there that will be called the Way of Holiness. No one who is unclean may pass over it; it will serve as a path for pilgrims and no fool will be able to use it. |