Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones. | Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. |
A perverse man stirs up strife. 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; one who rules his spirit, than he who takes a city. | Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city. |
Children’s children are the crown of old men; the glory of children is their parents. | Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children. |
Excellent speech isn’t fitting for a fool, much less do lying lips fit a prince. | Eloquent lips are unsuited to a godless fool— how much worse lying lips to a ruler! |
He who covers an offense promotes love; but he who repeats a matter separates best friends. | Whoever would foster love covers over an offense, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends. |
A friend loves at all times; and a brother is born for adversity. | A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity. |
A cheerful heart makes good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. | A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. |
Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is counted wise. When he shuts his lips, he is thought to be discerning. | Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent, and discerning if they hold their tongues. |
A fool has no delight in understanding, but only in revealing his own opinion. | Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. |
A fool’s lips come into strife, and his mouth invites beatings. | The lips of fools bring them strife, and their mouths invite a beating. |
The words of a gossip are like dainty morsels: they go down into a person’s innermost parts. | The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts. |
Yahweh’s name is a strong tower: the righteous 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 man’s wealth is his strong city, like an unscalable wall in his own imagination. | The wealth of the rich is their fortified city; they imagine it a wall too high to scale. |
Before destruction the heart of man is proud, but before honor is humility. | Before a downfall the heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor. |
A man’s gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men. | 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; those who love it will eat its fruit. | The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. |
Whoever finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor of Yahweh. | He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord. |
A man of many companions may be ruined, but there is a friend who 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. |
He who gets wisdom loves his own soul. He who keeps understanding shall find good. | The one who gets wisdom loves life; the one who cherishes understanding will soon prosper. |
House and riches are an inheritance from fathers, but a prudent wife is from Yahweh. | Houses and wealth are inherited from parents, but a prudent wife is from the Lord. |
He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, but he who is contemptuous in his ways shall die. | Whoever keeps commandments keeps their life, but whoever shows contempt for their ways will die. |
There are many plans in a man’s heart, but Yahweh’s counsel will prevail. | Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails. |
That which makes a man to be desired is his kindness. A poor man is better than a liar. | What a person desires is unfailing love; better to be poor than a liar. |
It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarreling. | It is to one’s honor to avoid strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel. |