The hand of the diligent will rule, while the lazy will be put to forced labor. | Authority will be granted to the diligent, but the lazy will be enslaved. |
Anxiety weighs down the human heart, but a good word cheers it up. | Anxiety in the human heart weighs it down, but a kind word makes it glad. |
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Those who guard their mouths preserve their lives; those who open wide their lips come to ruin. | He who guards his mouth makes his life secure, but one who talks excessively ensures his own downfall. |
Wealth is a ransom for a person's life, but the poor get no threats. | A wealthy man pays a ransom to save his life; a poor man never has to worry about such threats. |
By insolence the heedless make strife, but wisdom is with those who take advice. | An ignorant man causes strife by his insolence, but wisdom is found with those who take advice. |
Wealth hastily gotten will dwindle, but those who gather little by little will increase it. | Wealth hastily acquired will dwindle away, but when amassed little by little, it will increase. |
Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life. | Hope deferred sickens the heart, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life. |
Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools suffers harm. | Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but he who mingles with fools will suffer harm. |
A faithful witness does not lie, but a false witness breathes out lies. | A truthful witness does not lie, but a false witness lies incessantly. |
There is a way that seems right to a person, but its end is the way to death. | There is a way that seems right to a man, but the end of it leads to death. |
In all toil there is profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty. | Diligent labor always yields profit, but idle conversation only leads to poverty. |
Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but one who has a hasty temper exalts folly. | A patient man shows good sense, but a quick-tempered man displays the height of folly. |
Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people. | Righteousness is a sign of a nation’s greatness, but sin degrades any people. |
A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. | A gentle reply turns away wrath, but a harsh word arouses anger. |
A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit. | A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, but an undisciplined tongue crushes the spirit. |
A fool despises a parent's instruction, but the one who heeds admonition is prudent. | A fool spurns his father’s correction, but whoever heeds admonition is prudent. |
Better is a little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble with it. | It is better to have a little and fear the Lord than to possess immense wealth and suffer anguish. |
Without counsel, plans go wrong, but with many advisers they succeed. | Plans miscarry when counsel is lacking, but they succeed when there are many counselors. |
To make an apt answer is a joy to anyone, and a word in season, how good it is! | A man is joyful when he utters apt answers, and even more satisfying is a word in season. |
The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom, and humility goes before honor. | The fear of the Lord provides instruction in wisdom, and to be humble is the way to honor. |
Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established. | Entrust everything that you do to the Lord, and your plans will turn out to be successful. |
Better is a little with righteousness than large income with injustice. | It is better to have little and be righteous than to acquire great riches with injustice. |
The human mind plans the way, but the Lord directs the steps. | A man may plan his own course, but the Lord makes his steps secure. |
How much better to get wisdom than gold! To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver. | It is better to acquire wisdom rather than gold, and more desirable to acquire understanding rather than silver. |
Those who are attentive to a matter will prosper, and happy are those who trust in the Lord. | The one who pays heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord. |