Preferable is the little that the righteous possess than the great wealth of the wicked. For the power of the wicked will be overcome, but the Lord protects the righteous. | Better is a little that the righteous person has than the abundance of many wicked. For the arms of the wicked shall be broken, but the Lord upholds the righteous. |
The righteous is remembered with blessings, but the name of the wicked fades away. | The memory of the righteous is a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot. |
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Many shall be purified, cleansed, and refined, but the wicked will persist in their evil ways. | Many shall be purified, cleansed, and refined, but the wicked shall continue to act wickedly. None of the wicked shall understand, but those who are wise shall understand. |
The wicked man borrows but neglects to repay, whereas the righteous man is generous in giving. | The wicked borrow, and do not pay back, but the righteous are generous and keep giving. |
The hope of the righteous brings them joy, but the expectations of the wicked are frustrated. | The hope of the righteous ends in gladness, but the expectation of the wicked comes to nothing. |
Blessings are showered on the head of the righteous, but sorrow will cover the face of the wicked. | Blessings are on the head of the righteous, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence. |
The tongue of the just man is like pure silver; the heart of the wicked is without worth. | The tongue of the righteous is choice silver; the mind of the wicked is of little worth. |
The lips of the righteous utter words of kindness, but the mouth of the wicked knows only how to pervert. | The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked what is perverse. |
The labors of the wicked man produce little profit, but the one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward. | The wicked earn no real gain, but those who sow righteousness get a true reward. |
The Lord watches over the stranger and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but he blocks the way of the wicked. | The Lord watches over the strangers; he upholds the orphan and the widow, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin. |
Let those who love the Lord hate evil, for he protects the souls of his faithful ones and rescues them from the hand of the wicked. | The Lord loves those who hate evil; he guards the lives of his faithful; he rescues them from the hand of the wicked. |
Do I derive any pleasure from the death of the wicked? asks the Lord God. Would I not rather rejoice to see them turn away from their wickedness and live? | Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, says the Lord God, and not rather that they should turn from their ways and live? |
For the Lord loves the just, and he will not forsake his faithful ones. Those who follow evil paths will be destroyed, and the children of the wicked will be cut off. | For the Lord loves justice; he will not forsake his faithful ones. The righteous shall be kept safe forever, but the children of the wicked shall be cut off. |
However, if the wicked renounce all of the sins that they have committed and keep all my statutes and do what is right and just, they shall surely live; they shall not die. | But if the wicked turn away from all their sins that they have committed and keep all my statutes and do what is lawful and right, they shall surely live; they shall not die. |
Let the wicked abandon their ways and those who are evil their thoughts. Let them return to the Lord so that he may have mercy upon them; and to our God, for he is rich in forgiveness. | Let the wicked forsake their way, and the unrighteous their thoughts; let them return to the Lord, that he may have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. |
Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the way of sinners, nor sit in the company of scoffers. | Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or take the path that sinners tread, or sit in the seat of scoffers. |
And if then my people who bear my name humble themselves and pray to me and seek my presence as they turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear them from heaven and forgive their sins and restore their land. | If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. |
Examine me, O God, and know my heart; test me and understand my thoughts. See if I follow an evil way, and guide me on the way to eternity. | Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts. See if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. |
Wait quietly for the Lord and be patient until he comes. Do not fret over the man who prospers because of his evil schemes. | Be still before the Lord, and wait patiently for him; do not fret over those who prosper in their way, over those who carry out evil devices. |
When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you, to bless you by turning each one of you from your wicked ways. | When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you, to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways. |
I shall forgive them for their wicked deeds, and I shall remember their sins no more. | For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more. |
It is better to spend one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in God’s house than dwell inside the tents of the wicked. | For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than live in the tents of wickedness. |
Treasures obtained by wicked means profit nothing, but a righteous life brings delivery from death. | Treasures gained by wickedness do not profit, but righteousness delivers from death. |
Therefore, the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from their trials and to hold the wicked for punishment until the Day of Judgment. | Then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trial, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment. |
Anyone who leads an honorable life walks in safety, but whoever pursues wicked ways will be found out. | Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever follows perverse ways will be found out. |