1 ا لتَّفكِيرُ يَخُصُّ الإنسانَ، أمّا الجَوابُ المُناسِبُ فَمِنَ اللهِ.

The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.

2 ك ُلُّ طُرُقِ الإنْسانِ صالِحَةٌ بِحَسَبِ رَأْيِهِ، وَلَكِنَّ اللهَ يَحكُمُ عَلَى دَوافِعِ الإنسانِ.

All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the thoughts of the heart.

3 ا تَّكِلْ عَلَى اللهِ فِي أعمالِكَ، فَتَنجَحَ كُلُّ خُطَطِكَ.

Trust your work to the Lord, and your plans will work out well.

4 ا للهُ صَنَعَ كُلَّ شَيءٍ لِهَدَفٍ، فَحَتَّى الأشرارُ صَنَعَهُمْ لِليَومِ الشِّرِّيرِ.

The Lord has made all things for His own plans, even the sinful for the day of trouble.

5 ي ُبغِضُ اللهُ كُلَّ مُتَكَبِّرٍ، وَلا بُدَّ أنْ يَنالَ عِقابَهُ.

Everyone who is proud in heart is a shame to the Lord. For sure, that one will be punished.

6 ب ِالرَّحمَةِ وَالحَقِّ يُكَفَّرُ عَنِ الخَطايا، وَبِمَخافَةِ اللهِ يَبتَعِدُ الإنسانُ عَنِ الشَّرِّ.

Sin has been paid for by loving-kindness and truth. The fear of the Lord keeps one away from sin.

7 إ ذا سُرَّ اللهُ بِطُرُقِ إنسانٍ، جَعَلَ حَتَّى أعداءَهُ يُسالِمُونَهُ.

When the ways of a man are pleasing to the Lord, He makes even those who hate him to be at peace with him.

8 ا لقَلِيلُ مَعَ البِرِّ، أفضَلُ مِنْ رِبحٍ كَثِيرٍ تَحَقَّقَ بِالظُلمِ.

A little earned in a right way is better than much earned in a wrong way.

9 ا لإنسانُ يُخَطِّطُ لِطَرِيقِهِ، وَ اللهُ يُحَدِّدُ خَطَواتِهِ.

The mind of a man plans his way, but the Lord shows him what to do.

10 ا لمَشُورَةُ الإلَهِيَّةُ فِي كَلامِ المَلِكِ، فَلا يَحْكُمَ بِغَيْرِ العَدلِ.

The lips of the king should decide as God would. His mouth should not sin in deciding what is right or wrong.

11 ي ُريدُ اللهُ أنْ تَكونَ الموازينُ أمينَةً، وَكُلُّ الاتفاقياتِ نَزِيهَةً.

What is fair in telling the weight of something belongs to the Lord. He cares about all the weights of the bag.

12 ا لمُلُوكُ يَكرَهُونَ الأعمالَ الشِّرِّيرَةَ، لِأنَّهُ بِالبِرِّ يَثبُتُ حُكمُهُمْ.

It is a hated thing for kings to do what is wrong. For a throne is built on what is right.

13 ك َلامُ البِرِّ يُسعِدُ المَلِكَ، وَالمَلِكُ يُحِبُّ مَنْ يَتَكَلَّمُ بِالحَقِّ.

Lips that speak what is right and good are the joy of kings, and he who speaks the truth is loved.

14 غ َضَبُ المَلِكِ مُرعِبٌ كَرَسُولٍ الْمَوْتِ، وَالحَكِيمُ يَسْعَى إلَى تَهْدِئَتِهِ.

The anger of a king carries death, but a wise man will quiet it.

15 ت ُوجَدُ حَياةٌ فِي إرضاءِ المَلِكِ، وَرِضاهُ يُشبِهُ الغَيمَةَ المُمطِرَةَ فِي الرَّبِيعِ.

Life is in the light of a king’s face, and his favor is like a cloud bringing the spring rain.

16 ا لحِكْمَةُ أفضَلُ مِنَ الذَّهَبِ، وَالفَهمُ أفضَلُ مِنَ الفِضَّةِ.

To get wisdom is much better than getting gold. To get understanding should be chosen instead of silver.

17 ط َرِيقُ البِرِّ يَتَجَنَّبُ الشَّرَّ، وَمَنْ يَنتَبِهْ إلَى خَطَواتِهِ يَحرُسْ حَياتَهُ.

The road of the faithful turns away from sin. He who watches his way keeps his life.

18 ا لكِبرِياءُ تُسَبِّبُ الدَّمارَ، وَالغُرُورُ يُسَبِّبُ السُّقُوطَ.

Pride comes before being destroyed and a proud spirit comes before a fall.

19 أ نْ تَكونَ مُتَواضِعاً وَتحيا مَعَ الوُدَعاءِ، أفضلُ مِنْ أنْ تَقْسِمَ غَنيمَةً مَعَ المُتَكَبِّرِينَ.

It is better to be poor in spirit among poor people, than to divide the riches that were taken with the proud.

20 م َنْ يَتَعَلَّمُ قَدْ يَجِدُ النَّجاحَ، وَلَكِنْ هَنِيئاً لِمَنْ يَثِقُ بِاللهِ.

He who listens to the Word will find good, and happy is he who trusts in the Lord.

21 ا لحَكِيمُ يُسَمَّى فَهِيماً، وَالكَلامُ المُفِيدُ المُفرِحُ يَزِيدُ العِلْمَ.

The wise in heart will be called understanding. And to speak in a pleasing way helps people know what you say is right.

22 ا لتَّفكِيرُ الجَيِّدُ مَصدَرٌ لِلحَياةِ لِصاحِبِهِ، وَتَأدِيبُ الأحْمَقِ غَباءٌ وَبِلا فائِدَةٍ.

Understanding is a well of life to him who has it, but to speak strong words to fools is of no use.

23 ع َقلُ الحَكِيمُ يَقُودُ كَلامَهُ، وَبِكَلامِهِ يَزدادُ العِلْمُ.

The heart of the wise has power over his mouth and adds learning to his lips.

24 ا لكَلامُ الحُلْوُ يُشبِهُ شَهْدَ العَسَلِ، فَهْوَ حُلْوُ المَذاقِ وَشِفاءٌ لِلجِسمِ.

Pleasing words are like honey. They are sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

25 ت ُوجَدُ طَرِيقٌ تَظْهَرُ لِلإنِسانِ كَأنَّها مُستَقِيمَةٌ، وَلِكِنَّها تُؤَدِّي إلَى المَوتِ.

There is a way that looks right to a man, but its end is the way of death.

26 ش َهِيَّةُ الإنسانِ الّذِي يَعْمَلُ تَقُودُهُ فِي عَمَلِهِ، لِأنَّ جُوعَهُ يَحُثُّهُ عَلَى العَمَلِ.

A workman’s hunger works for him. The need of his mouth pushes him on.

27 ع َدِيمُ الفائِدَةِ يُخَطِّطُ لِلأذَى، وَكُلُّ ما يَقُولُهُ يُشبِهُ النّارَ الصاعِدَةَ.

A man of no worth looks for wrong-doing. His words are like burning fire.

28 ا لمُخادِعُ يُحدِثُ النِّزاعَ، وَالنَمّامُ يُفَرِّقُ الأصْدِقاءَ.

A bad man spreads trouble. One who hurts people with bad talk separates good friends.

29 ا لقاسِي يَخدَعُ جارَهُ، وَيَقُودُهُ إلَى طَرِيقٍ رَدِيءٍ.

A man who hurts people tempts his neighbor to do the same, and leads him in a way that is not good.

30 م َنْ يَغْمِزُ عَينَيهِ يُخَطِّطُ لِلفَوضَى وَالخَرابِ، وَبِزَمِّ شَفَتَيهِ يُظهِرُ نِيَّتَهُ لِلشَّرِّ.

He who winks his eyes plans to do bad things. He who closes his lips allows sinful things to happen.

31 ا لشَّيبُ تاجُ مَجدٍ لِلَّذِينَ يَنالُونَهُ بِعَيْشِ حَياةِ البِرِّ.

Hair that is turning white is like a crown of honor. It is found in the way of being right with God.

32 ا لصَّبُورُ خَيرٌ مِنَ الجَبّارِ، وَضابِطُ نَفْسِهِ خَيرٌ مِمَّنْ يَحكُمُ مَدِينَةً.

He who is slow to anger is better than the powerful. And he who rules his spirit is better than he who takes a city.

33 ق َدْ تُلْقَى القُرعَةُ فِي حِضنِكَ، لَكِنَّ الأحكامَ مِنَ اللهِ.

Man decides by throwing an object into the lap, but it is the Lord only who decides.