Who can find a worthy wife? She is far more precious than pearls. | Who can find a worthy woman? For her value is far above rubies. |
For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the Lord. | For whoever finds me finds life, and will obtain favor from Yahweh. |
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A man may plan his own course, but the Lord makes his steps secure. | A man’s heart plans his course, but Yahweh directs his steps. |
As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the wits of his neighbor. | Iron sharpens iron; so a man sharpens his friend’s countenance. |
The lips of a fool cause strife, and his mouth provokes a flogging. | A fool’s lips come into strife, and his mouth invites beatings. |
A truthful witness does not lie, but a false witness lies incessantly. | A truthful witness will not lie, but a false witness pours out lies. |
A man’s pride will bring him low, but lowly souls will rise to honor. | A man’s pride brings him low, but one of lowly spirit gains honor. |
Lying lips conceal hatred, and anyone who slanders another is a fool. | He who hides hatred has lying lips. He who utters a slander is a fool. |
The reward of humility and fear of the Lord is wealth, honor, and life. | The result of humility and the fear of Yahweh is wealth, honor, and life. |
When anyone turns a deaf ear to the law, even his prayer is detestable. | He who turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination. |
The Lord abhors lying lips, but he delights in those who are truthful. | Lying lips are an abomination to Yahweh, but those who do the truth are his delight. |
A gift opens doors for the giver and wins him access to the powerful. | A man’s gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men. |
A fool is quick to show his anger, but a prudent man ignores an insult. | A fool shows his annoyance the same day, but one who overlooks an insult is prudent. |
One who finds a wife finds happiness and receives favor from the Lord. | Whoever finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor of Yahweh. |
Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze on what lies before you. | Let your eyes look straight ahead. Fix your gaze directly before you. |
Ensure that the path you tread is level, and then your ways will be sure. | Make the path of your feet level. Let all of your ways be established. |
Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life and honor too. | He who follows after righteousness and kindness finds life, righteousness, and honor. |
A perverse man sows strife, and a tale-bearer destroys close friendships. | A perverse man stirs up strife. A whisperer separates close friends. |
Authority will be granted to the diligent, but the lazy will be enslaved. | The hands of the diligent ones shall rule, but laziness ends in slave labor. |
Anxiety in the human heart weighs it down, but a kind word makes it glad. | Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down, but a kind word makes it glad. |
A wise man will heed commandments, but a babbling fool will come to grief. | The wise in heart accept commandments, but a chattering fool will fall. |
Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your crops. | Honor Yahweh with your substance, with the first fruits of all your increase. |
Hope deferred sickens the heart, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life. | Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when longing is fulfilled, it is a tree of life. |
There is a way that seems right to a man, but the end of it leads to death. | There is a way which seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death. |
Just as water reflects one’s face, so does one human heart reflect another. | Like water reflects a face, so a man’s heart reflects the man. |