New King James Version

New Living Translation

1Better is the poor who walks in his integrity Than one who is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.

1Better to be poor and honest than to be dishonest and a fool.

2Also it is not good for a soul to be without knowledge, And he sins who hastens with his feet.

2Enthusiasm without knowledge is no good; haste makes mistakes.

3The foolishness of a man twists his way, And his heart frets against the LORD.

3People ruin their lives by their own foolishness and then are angry at the LORD.

4Wealth makes many friends, But the poor is separated from his friend.

4Wealth makes many “friends”; poverty drives them all away.

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

5A false witness will not go unpunished, nor will a liar escape.

6Many entreat the favor of the nobility, And every man is a friend to one who gives gifts.

6Many seek favors from a ruler; everyone is the friend of a person who gives gifts!

7All the brothers of the poor hate him; How much more do his friends go far from him! He may pursue them with words, yet they abandon him.

7The relatives of the poor despise them; how much more will their friends avoid them! Though the poor plead with them, their friends are gone.

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

8To acquire wisdom is to love yourself; people who cherish understanding will prosper.

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

9A false witness will not go unpunished, and a liar will be destroyed.

10Luxury is not fitting for a fool, Much less for a servant to rule over princes.

10It isn’t right for a fool to live in luxury or for a slave to rule over princes!

11The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger, And his glory is to overlook a transgression.

11Sensible people control their temper; they earn respect by overlooking wrongs.

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 a lion’s roar, but his favor is like dew on the grass.

13A foolish son is the ruin of his father, And the contentions of a wife are a continual dripping.

13A foolish child is a calamity to a father; a quarrelsome wife is as annoying as constant dripping.

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

14Fathers can give their sons an inheritance of houses and wealth, but only the LORD can give an understanding wife.

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

15Lazy people sleep soundly, but idleness leaves them hungry.

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

16Keep the commandments and keep your life; despising them leads to death.

17He who has pity on the poor lends to the LORD, And He will pay back what he has given.

17If you help the poor, you are lending to the LORD— and he will repay you!

18Chasten your son while there is hope, And do not set your heart on his destruction.

18Discipline your children while there is hope. Otherwise you will ruin their lives.

19A man of great wrath will suffer punishment; For if you rescue him, you will have to do it again.

19Hot-tempered people must pay the penalty. If you rescue them once, you will have to do it again.

20Listen to counsel and receive instruction, That you may be wise in your latter days.

20Get all the advice and instruction you can, so you will be wise the rest of your life.

21There are many plans in a man’s heart, Nevertheless the LORD’s counsel—that will stand.

21You can make many plans, but the LORD’s purpose will prevail.

22What is desired in a man is kindness, And a poor man is better than a liar.

22Loyalty makes a person attractive. It is better to be poor than dishonest.

23The fear of the LORD leads to life, And he who has it will abide in satisfaction; He will not be visited with evil.

23Fear of the LORD leads to life, bringing security and protection from harm.

24A lazy man buries his hand in the bowl, And will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.

24Lazy people take food in their hand but don’t even lift it to their mouth.

25Strike a scoffer, and the simple will become wary; Rebuke one who has understanding, and he will discern knowledge.

25If you punish a mocker, the simpleminded will learn a lesson; if you correct the wise, they will be all the wiser.

26He who mistreats his father and chases away his mother Is a son who causes shame and brings reproach.

26Children who mistreat their father or chase away their mother are an embarrassment and a public disgrace.

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

27If you stop listening to instruction, my child, you will turn your back on knowledge.

28A disreputable witness scorns justice, And the mouth of the wicked devours iniquity.

28A corrupt witness makes a mockery of justice; the mouth of the wicked gulps down evil.

29Judgments are prepared for scoffers, And beatings for the backs of fools.

29Punishment is made for mockers, and the backs of fools are made to be beaten.

The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.