Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. | 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 law, But let your heart keep my commands; For length of days and long life And peace they will add to you. | 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 not mercy and truth forsake you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart, And so find favor and high esteem 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 depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, And strength 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 possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase. | Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your crops. |
My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor detest His correction; For whom the Lord loves He corrects, Just as a father the son in whom he delights. | 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. |
Happy is the man who finds wisdom, And the man who gains 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 the power of your hand to do so. | Do not withhold kindness from anyone to whom it is due when it is in your power to grant it. |
Do not envy the oppressor, And choose none of his ways; For the perverse person is an abomination to the Lord, But His secret counsel is with the upright. | 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, nor turn away from the words of my mouth. | Acquire wisdom and gain understanding; never forget or turn aside from my words. |
Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding. | The beginning of wisdom is: acquire wisdom, and no matter what the cost, acquire understanding. |
Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, 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 have taught you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in right paths. | I have instructed you in the ways of wisdom and led you along the paths of righteousness. |
My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of 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. |
Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life. | Guard your heart with all possible vigilance, for from it flow the wellsprings of life. |
Put away from you a deceitful mouth, And put perverse lips far from you. | Turn away from the mouth that deceives and keep your distance from lips that mislead. |
Let your eyes look straight ahead, And your eyelids look right before you. | Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze on what lies before you. |
Ponder the path of your feet, And let all your ways be established. | Ensure that the path you tread is level, and then your ways will be sure. |
Do not turn to the right or the left; Remove 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 the law of your mother. | Observe your father’s command, my son, and do not reject your mother’s teaching. |
Can one walk on hot coals, And his feet not be seared? | Or can a man walk on red-hot coals without scorching his feet? |
The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverse mouth I hate. | The fear of the Lord implies hatred of evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil ways and perverse speech. |
For whoever finds me finds life, And obtains 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 the 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 makes a glad father, But a foolish son is the grief of his mother. | A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son gives grief to his mother. |