Work hard and become a leader; be lazy and become a slave. | Authority will be granted to the diligent, but the lazy will be enslaved. |
Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up. | Anxiety in the human heart weighs it down, but a kind word makes it glad. |
|
Those who control their tongue will have a long life; opening your mouth can ruin everything. | He who guards his mouth makes his life secure, but one who talks excessively ensures his own downfall. |
The rich can pay a ransom for their lives, but the poor won’t even get threatened. | A wealthy man pays a ransom to save his life; a poor man never has to worry about such threats. |
Pride leads to conflict; those who take advice are wise. | An ignorant man causes strife by his insolence, but wisdom is found with those who take advice. |
Wealth from get-rich-quick schemes quickly disappears; wealth from hard work grows over time. | Wealth hastily acquired will dwindle away, but when amassed little by little, it will increase. |
Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life. | Hope deferred sickens the heart, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life. |
Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble. | Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but he who mingles with fools will suffer harm. |
An honest witness does not lie; a false witness breathes lies. | A truthful witness does not lie, but a false witness lies incessantly. |
There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death. | There is a way that seems right to a man, but the end of it leads to death. |
Work brings profit, but mere talk leads to poverty! | Diligent labor always yields profit, but idle conversation only leads to poverty. |
People with understanding control their anger; a hot temper shows great foolishness. | A patient man shows good sense, but a quick-tempered man displays the height of folly. |
Godliness makes a nation great, but sin is a disgrace to any people. | Righteousness is a sign of a nation’s greatness, but sin degrades any people. |
A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare. | A gentle reply turns away wrath, but a harsh word arouses anger. |
Gentle words are a tree of life; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit. | A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, but an undisciplined tongue crushes the spirit. |
Only a fool despises a parent’s discipline; whoever learns from correction is wise. | A fool spurns his father’s correction, but whoever heeds admonition is prudent. |
Better to have little, with fear for the Lord, than to have great treasure and inner turmoil. | It is better to have a little and fear the Lord than to possess immense wealth and suffer anguish. |
Plans go wrong for lack of advice; many advisers bring success. | Plans miscarry when counsel is lacking, but they succeed when there are many counselors. |
Everyone enjoys a fitting reply; it is wonderful to say the right thing at the right time! | A man is joyful when he utters apt answers, and even more satisfying is a word in season. |
Fear of the Lord teaches wisdom; humility precedes honor. | The fear of the Lord provides instruction in wisdom, and to be humble is the way to honor. |
Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed. | Entrust everything that you do to the Lord, and your plans will turn out to be successful. |
Better to have little, with godliness, than to be rich and dishonest. | It is better to have little and be righteous than to acquire great riches with injustice. |
We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps. | A man may plan his own course, but the Lord makes his steps secure. |
How much better to get wisdom than gold, and good judgment than silver! | It is better to acquire wisdom rather than gold, and more desirable to acquire understanding rather than silver. |
Those who listen to instruction will prosper; those who trust the Lord will be joyful. | The one who pays heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord. |