| Diligent hands will rule, but laziness ends in forced labor. | Work hard and become a leader; be lazy and become a slave. |
| Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up. | Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up. |
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| Those who guard their lips preserve their lives, but those who speak rashly will come to ruin. | Those who control their tongue will have a long life; opening your mouth can ruin everything. |
| A person’s riches may ransom their life, but the poor cannot respond to threatening rebukes. | The rich can pay a ransom for their lives, but the poor won’t even get threatened. |
| Where there is strife, there is pride, but wisdom is found in those who take advice. | Pride leads to conflict; those who take advice are wise. |
| Dishonest money dwindles away, but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow. | Wealth from get-rich-quick schemes quickly disappears; wealth from hard work grows over time. |
| Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life. | Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life. |
| Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm. | Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble. |
| An honest witness does not deceive, but a false witness pours out lies. | An honest witness does not lie; a false witness breathes lies. |
| There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death. | There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death. |
| All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty. | Work brings profit, but mere talk leads to poverty! |
| Whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly. | People with understanding control their anger; a hot temper shows great foolishness. |
| Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin condemns any people. | Godliness makes a nation great, but sin is a disgrace to any people. |
| A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. | A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare. |
| The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit. | Gentle words are a tree of life; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit. |
| A fool spurns a parent’s discipline, but whoever heeds correction shows prudence. | Only a fool despises a parent’s discipline; whoever learns from correction is wise. |
| Better a little with the fear of the Lord than great wealth with turmoil. | Better to have little, with fear for the Lord, than to have great treasure and inner turmoil. |
| Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed. | Plans go wrong for lack of advice; many advisers bring success. |
| A person finds joy in giving an apt reply— and how good is a timely word! | Everyone enjoys a fitting reply; it is wonderful to say the right thing at the right time! |
| Wisdom’s instruction is to fear the Lord, and humility comes before honor. | Fear of the Lord teaches wisdom; humility precedes honor. |
| Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans. | Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed. |
| Better a little with righteousness than much gain with injustice. | Better to have little, with godliness, than to be rich and dishonest. |
| In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps. | We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps. |
| How much better to get wisdom than gold, to get insight rather than silver! | How much better to get wisdom than gold, and good judgment than silver! |
| Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord. | Those who listen to instruction will prosper; those who trust the Lord will be joyful. |
