| New King James Version | Berean Study Bible |
| 1A wise son heeds his father’s instruction, But a scoffer does not listen to rebuke. | 1A wise son heeds his father’s discipline, but a mocker does not listen to rebuke. |
| 2A man shall eat well by the fruit of his mouth, But the soul of the unfaithful feeds on violence. | 2From the fruit of his lips a man enjoys good things, but the desire of the faithless is violence. |
| 3He who guards his mouth preserves his life, But he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction. | 3He who guards his mouth protects his life, but the one who opens his lips invites his own ruin. |
| 4The soul of a lazy man desires, and has nothing; But the soul of the diligent shall be made rich. | 4The slacker craves yet has nothing, but the soul of the diligent is fully satisfied. |
| 5A righteous man hates lying, But a wicked man is loathsome and comes to shame. | 5The righteous hate falsehood, but the wicked bring shame and disgrace. |
| 6Righteousness guards him whose way is blameless, But wickedness overthrows the sinner. | 6Righteousness guards the man of integrity, but wickedness undermines the sinner. |
| 7There is one who makes himself rich, yet has nothing; And one who makes himself poor, yet has great riches. | 7One pretends to be rich, but has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth. |
| 8The ransom of a man’s life is his riches, But the poor does not hear rebuke. | 8Riches may ransom a man’s life, but a poor man hears no threat. |
| 9The light of the righteous rejoices, But the lamp of the wicked will be put out. | 9The light of the righteous shines brightly, but the lamp of the wicked is extinguished. |
| 10By pride comes nothing but strife, But with the well-advised is wisdom. | 10Arrogance leads only to strife, but wisdom is with the well-advised. |
| 11Wealth gained by dishonesty will be diminished, But he who gathers by labor will increase. | 11Dishonest wealth will dwindle, but what is earned through hard work will be multiplied. |
| 12Hope deferred makes the heart sick, But when the desire comes, it is a tree of life. | 12Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but desire fulfilled is a tree of life. |
| 13He who despises the word will be destroyed, But he who fears the commandment will be rewarded. | 13He who despises instruction will pay the penalty, but the one who respects a command will be rewarded. |
| 14The law of the wise is a fountain of life, To turn one away from the snares of death. | 14The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, turning one from the snares of death. |
| 15Good understanding gains favor, But the way of the unfaithful is hard. | 15Good understanding wins favor, but the way of the faithless is difficult. |
| 16Every prudent man acts with knowledge, But a fool lays open his folly. | 16Every prudent man acts with knowledge, but a fool displays his folly. |
| 17A wicked messenger falls into trouble, But a faithful ambassador brings health. | 17A wicked messenger falls into trouble, but a faithful envoy brings healing. |
| 18Poverty and shame will come to him who disdains correction, But he who regards a rebuke will be honored. | 18Poverty and shame come to him who ignores discipline, but whoever heeds correction is honored. |
| 19A desire accomplished is sweet to the soul, But it is an abomination to fools to depart from evil. | 19Desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but turning from evil is detestable to fools. |
| 20He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will be destroyed. | 20He who walks with the wise will become wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed. |
| 21Evil pursues sinners, But to the righteous, good shall be repaid. | 21Disaster pursues sinners, but prosperity is the reward of the righteous. |
| 22A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, But the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous. | 22A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, but the sinner’s wealth is passed to the righteous. |
| 23Much food is in the fallow ground of the poor, And for lack of justice there is waste. | 23Abundant food is in the fallow ground of the poor, but without justice it is swept away. |
| 24He who spares his rod hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines him promptly. | 24He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him diligently. |
| 25The righteous eats to the satisfying of his soul, But the stomach of the wicked shall be in want. | 25A righteous man eats to his heart’s content, but the stomach of the wicked is empty. |
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