| For those who find me find life and receive favor from the Lord. | For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the Lord. |
| My son, if your heart is wise, then my heart will be glad indeed. | My child, if your heart is wise, my own heart will rejoice! |
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| A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. | A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare. |
| Better a little with righteousness than much gain with injustice. | Better to have little, with godliness, than to be rich and dishonest. |
| Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy. | Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice. |
| All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty. | Work brings profit, but mere talk leads to poverty! |
| Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed. | Plans go wrong for lack of advice; many advisers bring success. |
| When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. | Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. |
| Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans. | Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed. |
| Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. | Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. |
| The blessing of the Lord brings wealth, without painful toil for it. | The blessing of the Lord makes a person rich, and he adds no sorrow with it. |
| The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender. | Just as the rich rule the poor, so the borrower is servant to the lender. |
| Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. | Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. |
| Do not wear yourself out to get rich; do not trust your own cleverness. | Don’t wear yourself out trying to get rich. Be wise enough to know when to quit. |
| The lips of fools bring them strife, and their mouths invite a beating. | Fools’ words get them into constant quarrels; they are asking for a beating. |
| The wise in heart accept commands, but a chattering fool comes to ruin. | The wise are glad to be instructed, but babbling fools fall flat on their faces. |
| Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops. | Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce. |
| I instruct you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths. | I will teach you wisdom’s ways and lead you in straight paths. |
| An honest witness does not deceive, but a false witness pours out lies. | An honest witness does not lie; a false witness breathes lies. |
| A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy person keeps a secret. | A gossip goes around telling secrets, but those who are trustworthy can keep a confidence. |
| Whoever conceals hatred with lying lips and spreads slander is a fool. | Hiding hatred makes you a liar; slandering others makes you a fool. |
| What a person desires is unfailing love; better to be poor than a liar. | Loyalty makes a person attractive. It is better to be poor than dishonest. |
| Fools show their annoyance at once, but the prudent overlook an insult. | A fool is quick-tempered, but a wise person stays calm when insulted. |
| Fools give full vent to their rage, but the wise bring calm in the end. | Fools vent their anger, but the wise quietly hold it back. |
| Whoever pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor. | Whoever pursues righteousness and unfailing love will find life, righteousness, and honor. |
