| Kind words are like honey— sweet to the soul and healthy for the body. | Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. |
| A troublemaker plants seeds of strife; gossip separates the best of friends. | A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends. |
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| Better to be patient than powerful; better to have self-control than to conquer a city. | Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city. |
| Grandchildren are the crowning glory of the aged; parents are the pride of their children. | Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children. |
| Eloquent words are not fitting for a fool; even less are lies fitting for a ruler. | Eloquent lips are unsuited to a godless fool— how much worse lying lips to a ruler! |
| Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends. | Whoever would foster love covers over an offense, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends. |
| A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need. | A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity. |
| A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength. | A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. |
| Even fools are thought wise when they keep silent; with their mouths shut, they seem intelligent. | Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent, and discerning if they hold their tongues. |
| Fools have no interest in understanding; they only want to air their own opinions. | Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. |
| Fools’ words get them into constant quarrels; they are asking for a beating. | The lips of fools bring them strife, and their mouths invite a beating. |
| Rumors are dainty morsels that sink deep into one’s heart. | The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts. |
| The name of the Lord is a strong fortress; the godly run to him and are safe. | The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe. |
| The rich think of their wealth as a strong defense; they imagine it to be a high wall of safety. | The wealth of the rich is their fortified city; they imagine it a wall too high to scale. |
| Haughtiness goes before destruction; humility precedes honor. | Before a downfall the heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor. |
| Giving a gift can open doors; it gives access to important people! | A gift opens the way and ushers the giver into the presence of the great. |
| The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences. | The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. |
| The man who finds a wife finds a treasure, and he receives favor from the Lord. | He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord. |
| There are “friends” who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother. | One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. |
| To acquire wisdom is to love yourself; people who cherish understanding will prosper. | The one who gets wisdom loves life; the one who cherishes understanding will soon prosper. |
| Fathers can give their sons an inheritance of houses and wealth, but only the Lord can give an understanding wife. | Houses and wealth are inherited from parents, but a prudent wife is from the Lord. |
| Keep the commandments and keep your life; despising them leads to death. | Whoever keeps commandments keeps their life, but whoever shows contempt for their ways will die. |
| You can make many plans, but the Lord’s purpose will prevail. | Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails. |
| Loyalty makes a person attractive. It is better to be poor than dishonest. | What a person desires is unfailing love; better to be poor than a liar. |
| Avoiding a fight is a mark of honor; only fools insist on quarreling. | It is to one’s honor to avoid strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel. |
