Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body. | Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. |
A perverse person spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends. | A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends. |
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One who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and one whose temper is controlled than one who captures a city. | Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city. |
Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of children is their parents. | Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children. |
Fine speech is not becoming to a fool; still less is false speech to a ruler. | Eloquent lips are unsuited to a godless fool— how much worse lying lips to a ruler! |
One who forgives an affront fosters friendship, but one who dwells on disputes will alienate a friend. | Whoever would foster love covers over an offense, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends. |
A friend loves at all times, and kinsfolk are born to share adversity. | A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity. |
A cheerful heart is a good medicine, but a downcast spirit dries up the bones. | A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. |
Even fools who keep silent are considered wise; when they close their lips, they are deemed intelligent. | Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent, and discerning if they hold their tongues. |
A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing personal opinion. | Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. |
A fool's lips bring strife, and a fool's mouth invites a flogging. | The lips of fools bring them strife, and their mouths invite a beating. |
The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body. | The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts. |
The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run into it and are safe. | The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe. |
The wealth of the rich is their strong city; in their imagination it is like a high wall. | The wealth of the rich is their fortified city; they imagine it a wall too high to scale. |
Before destruction one's heart is haughty, but humility goes before honor. | Before a downfall the heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor. |
A gift opens doors; it gives access to the great. | A gift opens the way and ushers the giver into the presence of the great. |
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits. | The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. |
He who finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor from the Lord. | He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord. |
Some friends play at friendship but a true friend sticks closer than one's nearest kin. | One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. |
To get wisdom is to love oneself; to keep understanding is to prosper. | The one who gets wisdom loves life; the one who cherishes understanding will soon prosper. |
House and wealth are inherited from parents, but a prudent wife is from the Lord. | Houses and wealth are inherited from parents, but a prudent wife is from the Lord. |
Those who keep the commandment will live; those who are heedless of their ways will die. | Whoever keeps commandments keeps their life, but whoever shows contempt for their ways will die. |
The human mind may devise many plans, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will be established. | Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails. |
What is desirable in a person is loyalty, and it is better to be poor than a liar. | What a person desires is unfailing love; better to be poor than a liar. |
It is honorable to refrain from strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel. | It is to one’s honor to avoid strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel. |