| King James Bible | New International Version |
| 1A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold. | 1A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold. |
| 2The rich and poor meet together: the LORD is the maker of them all. | 2Rich and poor have this in common: The LORD is the Maker of them all. |
| 3A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished. | 3The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty. |
| 4By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life. | 4Humility is the fear of the LORD; its wages are riches and honor and life. |
| 5Thorns and snares are in the way of the froward: he that doth keep his soul shall be far from them. | 5In the paths of the wicked are snares and pitfalls, but those who would preserve their life stay far from them. |
| 6Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. | 6Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it. |
| 7The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender. | 7The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender. |
| 8He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail. | 8Whoever sows injustice reaps calamity, and the rod they wield in fury will be broken. |
| 9He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor. | 9The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor. |
| 10Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease. | 10Drive out the mocker, and out goes strife; quarrels and insults are ended. |
| 11He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend. | 11One who loves a pure heart and who speaks with grace will have the king for a friend. |
| 12The eyes of the LORD preserve knowledge, and he overthroweth the words of the transgressor. | 12The eyes of the LORD keep watch over knowledge, but he frustrates the words of the unfaithful. |
| 13The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets. | 13The sluggard says, "There's a lion outside! I'll be killed in the public square!" |
| 14The mouth of strange women is a deep pit: he that is abhorred of the LORD shall fall therein. | 14The mouth of an adulterous woman is a deep pit; a man who is under the LORD's wrath falls into it. |
| 15Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him. | 15Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far away. |
| 16He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want. | 16One who oppresses the poor to increase his wealth and one who gives gifts to the rich--both come to poverty. |
| 17Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge. | 17Pay attention and turn your ear to the sayings of the wise; apply your heart to what I teach, |
| 18For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips. | 18for it is pleasing when you keep them in your heart and have all of them ready on your lips. |
| 19That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee. | 19So that your trust may be in the LORD, I teach you today, even you. |
| 20Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge, | 20Have I not written thirty sayings for you, sayings of counsel and knowledge, |
| 21That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee? | 21teaching you to be honest and to speak the truth, so that you bring back truthful reports to those you serve? |
| 22Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate: | 22Do not exploit the poor because they are poor and do not crush the needy in court, |
| 23For the LORD will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them. | 23for the LORD will take up their case and will exact life for life. |
| 24Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go: | 24Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person, do not associate with one easily angered, |
| 25Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul. | 25or you may learn their ways and get yourself ensnared. |
| 26Be not thou one of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts. | 26Do not be one who shakes hands in pledge or puts up security for debts; |
| 27If thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee? | 27if you lack the means to pay, your very bed will be snatched from under you. |
| 28Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set. | 28Do not move an ancient boundary stone set up by your ancestors. |
| 29Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men. | 29Do you see someone skilled in their work? They will serve before kings; they will not serve before officials of low rank. |
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