New American Standard Bible 1995

International Standard Version

1Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity Than he who is perverse in speech and is a fool.

1A poor man who walks blamelessly is better than a fool who speaks perversely.

2Also it is not good for a person to be without knowledge, And he who hurries his footsteps errs.

2Furthermore, it isn't good to be ignorant, and whoever rushes into things misses the mark.

3The foolishness of man ruins his way, And his heart rages against the LORD.

3A man's foolishness ruins his life, yet his heart rages against the LORD.

4Wealth adds many friends, But a poor man is separated from his friend.

4Wealth brings many friends, but a poor man is deserted by his friend.

5A false witness will not go unpunished, And he who tells lies will not escape.

5A witness to lies will not go unpunished; the teller of falsehoods will not escape.

6Many will seek the favor of a generous man, And every man is a friend to him who gives gifts.

6Many curry favor of an official; everyone is a friend of the gift giver.

7All the brothers of a poor man hate him; How much more do his friends abandon him! He pursues them with words, but they are gone.

7All the relatives of a poor person shun him— how much more do his friends avoid him! Though he runs after them pleading, they aren't around.

8He who gets wisdom loves his own soul; He who keeps understanding will find good.

8Whoever obtains wisdom loves himself, and whoever treasures understanding will prosper.

9A false witness will not go unpunished, And he who tells lies will perish.

9A witness to lies will not go unpunished; the teller of falsehoods will perish.

10Luxury is not fitting for a fool; Much less for a slave to rule over princes.

10It's not fitting for a fool to live in luxury; neither is it for a servant to rule over princes.

11A man's discretion makes him slow to anger, And it is his glory to overlook a transgression.

11A person's discretion makes him slow to anger, and it is to his credit that he ignores an offence.

12The king's wrath is like the roaring of a lion, But his favor is like dew on the grass.

12The king's anger is like the roaring of a lion, but his goodwill is like dew on the grass.

13A foolish son is destruction to his father, And the contentions of a wife are a constant dripping.

13A father's ruin is a foolish son, and a wife's quarreling is like dripping water that never stops.

14House and wealth are an inheritance from fathers, But a prudent wife is from the LORD.

14A house and self-sufficiency are a father's inheritance, but from the LORD comes an insightful wife.

15Laziness casts into a deep sleep, And an idle man will suffer hunger.

15Laziness puts one to sleep, and an idle person will go hungry.

16He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, But he who is careless of conduct will die.

16Whoever obeys a commandment keeps himself safe, but someone who is contemptuous in conduct will die.

17One who is gracious to a poor man lends to the LORD, And He will repay him for his good deed.

17Whoever is kind to the poor is lending to the LORD— the benefit of his gift will return to him in abundance.

18Discipline your son while there is hope, And do not desire his death.

18Discipline your son while there is still hope— but don't set your heart on his destruction.

19A man of great anger will bear the penalty, For if you rescue him, you will only have to do it again.

19The person who has great anger must pay the consequences, because if you rescue him, 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 you'll be wise for the rest of your life.

21Many plans are in a man's heart, But the counsel of the LORD will stand.

21Many plans occupy the mind of a man, but the LORD's purposes will prevail.

22What is desirable in a man is his kindness, And it is better to be a poor man than a liar.

22Human beings long for grace, and it's better to be poor than a man of deceit.

23The fear of the LORD leads to life, So that one may sleep satisfied, untouched by evil.

23The fear of the LORD leads to life; whoever is satisfied with it will rest, untouched by evil.

24The sluggard buries his hand in the dish, But will not even bring it back to his mouth.

24The lazy person buries his hand in his dish and doesn't bother to bring it back to his mouth.

25Strike a scoffer and the naive may become shrewd, But reprove one who has understanding and he will gain knowledge.

25If you scourge a scoffer, the simple person may learn to be discreet; rebuke a discerning man and he will gain understanding.

26He who assaults his father and drives his mother away Is a shameful and disgraceful son.

26Whoever mistreats his father and alienates his mother is a son who brings both shame and disrespect.

27Cease listening, my son, to discipline, And you will stray from the words of knowledge.

27My son, if you stop listening to instruction, you will stray from the principles of knowledge.

28A rascally witness makes a mockery of justice, And the mouth of the wicked spreads iniquity.

28A corrupt witness mocks justice, and the wicked person feeds on iniquity.

29Judgments are prepared for scoffers, And blows for the back of fools.

29Condemnation is appropriate for mockers, just as beatings are for the backs of fools.

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org

The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.