| Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. | Trust wholeheartedly in the Lord rather than relying on your own intelligence. In everything you do, acknowledge him, and he will see that your paths are straight. |
| My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity. | My son, do not forget my teaching, but cherish my commandments in your heart, for they will bring you length of days, more years of life, and an abundance of prosperity. |
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| Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. | Do not let kindness and fidelity leave you; fasten them around your neck and inscribe them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will gain favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. |
| Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones. | Do not pride yourself on your own wisdom; fear the Lord and turn your back on evil. This will provide healing for your flesh and restore strength to your body. |
| Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops. | Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your crops. |
| My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in. | My son, do not ignore the Lord’s discipline or refuse to accept his rebuke. For the Lord disciplines those whom he loves, just as a father chastises a beloved son. |
| Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding. | Blessed is the person who has found wisdom, the one who has gained understanding. |
| Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act. | Do not withhold kindness from anyone to whom it is due when it is in your power to grant it. |
| Do not envy the violent or choose any of their ways. For the Lord detests the perverse but takes the upright into 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. |
| Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn away from them. | Acquire wisdom and gain understanding; never forget or turn aside from my words. |
| The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. | The beginning of wisdom is: acquire wisdom, and no matter what the cost, acquire understanding. |
| Listen, my son, accept what I say, and the years of your life will be many. | Listen, my son, and take my words to heart, and the years of your life will be multiplied. |
| I instruct you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths. | I have instructed you in the ways of wisdom and led you along the paths of righteousness. |
| My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart. | My son, concentrate attentively on my words; pay heed to the instructions I pass on to you. Do not let them slip from your mind; keep them forever in your heart. |
| Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. | Guard your heart with all possible vigilance, for from it flow the wellsprings of life. |
| Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. | Turn away from the mouth that deceives and keep your distance from lips that mislead. |
| Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. | Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze on what lies before you. |
| Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. | Ensure that the path you tread is level, and then your ways will be sure. |
| Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil. | Do not swerve either to the right or to the left; keep your foot far from evil. |
| My son, keep your father’s command and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. | Observe your father’s command, my son, and do not reject your mother’s teaching. |
| Can a man walk on hot coals without his feet being scorched? | Or can a man walk on red-hot coals without scorching his feet? |
| To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech. | The fear of the Lord implies hatred of evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil ways and perverse speech. |
| 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. |
| The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. | The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. |
| A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son brings grief to his mother. | A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son gives grief to his mother. |
