| Berean Study Bible | New International Version |
| 1Better a poor man who walks with integrity than a fool whose lips are perverse. | 1Better the poor whose walk is blameless than a fool whose lips are perverse. |
| 2Even zeal is no good without knowledge, and he who hurries his footsteps misses the mark. | 2Desire without knowledge is not good-- how much more will hasty feet miss the way! |
| 3A man’s own folly subverts his way, yet his heart rages against the LORD. | 3A person's own folly leads to their ruin, yet their heart rages against the LORD. |
| 4Wealth attracts many friends, but a poor man is deserted by his friend. | 4Wealth attracts many friends, but even the closest friend of the poor person deserts them. |
| 5A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who utters lies will not escape. | 5A false witness will not go unpunished, and whoever pours out lies will not go free. |
| 6Many seek the favor of the prince, and everyone is a friend of the gift giver. | 6Many curry favor with a ruler, and everyone is the friend of one who gives gifts. |
| 7All the brothers of a poor man hate him—how much more do his friends avoid him! He may pursue them with pleading, but they are nowhere to be found. | 7The poor are shunned by all their relatives-- how much more do their friends avoid them! Though the poor pursue them with pleading, they are nowhere to be found. |
| 8He who acquires wisdom loves himself; one who safeguards understanding will find success. | 8The one who gets wisdom loves life; the one who cherishes understanding will soon prosper. |
| 9A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who pours out lies will perish. | 9A false witness will not go unpunished, and whoever pours out lies will perish. |
| 10Luxury is unseemly for a fool—how much worse for a slave to rule over princes! | 10It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury-- how much worse for a slave to rule over princes! |
| 11A man’s insight gives him patience, and his virtue is to overlook an offense. | 11A person's wisdom yields patience; it is to one's glory to overlook an offense. |
| 12A king’s rage is like the roar of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass. | 12A king's rage is like the roar of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass. |
| 13A foolish son is his father’s ruin, and a quarrelsome wife is like a constant dripping. | 13A foolish child is a father's ruin, and a quarrelsome wife is like the constant dripping of a leaky roof. |
| 14Houses and wealth are inherited from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the LORD. | 14Houses and wealth are inherited from parents, but a prudent wife is from the LORD. |
| 15Laziness brings on deep sleep, and an idle soul will suffer hunger. | 15Laziness brings on deep sleep, and the shiftless go hungry. |
| 16He who keeps a commandment preserves his soul, but he who is careless in his ways will die. | 16Whoever keeps commandments keeps their life, but whoever shows contempt for their ways will die. |
| 17Kindness to the poor is a loan to the LORD, and He will repay the lender. | 17Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward them for what they have done. |
| 18Discipline your son, for in that there is hope; do not be party to his death. | 18Discipline your children, for in that there is hope; do not be a willing party to their death. |
| 19A man of great anger must pay the penalty; if you rescue him, you will have to do so again. | 19A hot-tempered person must pay the penalty; rescue them, and you will have to do it again. |
| 20Listen to counsel and accept discipline, that you may be wise the rest of your days. | 20Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise. |
| 21Many plans are in a man’s heart, but the purpose of the LORD will prevail. | 21Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails. |
| 22The desire of a man is loving devotion; better to be poor than a liar. | 22What a person desires is unfailing love; better to be poor than a liar. |
| 23The fear of the LORD leads to life, that one may rest content, without visitation from harm. | 23The fear of the LORD leads to life; then one rests content, untouched by trouble. |
| 24The slacker buries his hand in the dish; he will not even bring it back to his mouth. | 24A sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he will not even bring it back to his mouth! |
| 25Strike a mocker, and the simple will beware; rebuke the discerning man, and he will gain knowledge. | 25Flog a mocker, and the simple will learn prudence; rebuke the discerning, and they will gain knowledge. |
| 26He who assaults his father or evicts his mother is a son who brings shame and disgrace. | 26Whoever robs their father and drives out their mother is a child who brings shame and disgrace. |
| 27If you cease to hear instruction, my son, you will stray from the words of knowledge. | 27Stop listening to instruction, my son, and you will stray from the words of knowledge. |
| 28A corrupt witness mocks justice, and a wicked mouth swallows iniquity. | 28A corrupt witness mocks at justice, and the mouth of the wicked gulps down evil. |
| 29Judgments are prepared for mockers, and beatings for the backs of fools. | 29Penalties are prepared for mockers, and beatings for the backs of fools. |
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