| Berean Study Bible | New Living Translation |
| 1Better a poor man who walks with integrity than a fool whose lips are perverse. | 1Better to be poor and honest than to be dishonest and a fool. |
| 2Even zeal is no good without knowledge, and he who hurries his footsteps misses the mark. | 2Enthusiasm without knowledge is no good; haste makes mistakes. |
| 3A man’s own folly subverts his way, yet his heart rages against the LORD. | 3People ruin their lives by their own foolishness and then are angry at the LORD. |
| 4Wealth attracts many friends, but a poor man is deserted by his friend. | 4Wealth makes many “friends”; poverty drives them all away. |
| 5A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who utters lies will not escape. | 5A false witness will not go unpunished, nor will a liar escape. |
| 6Many seek the favor of the prince, and everyone is a friend of the gift giver. | 6Many seek favors from a ruler; everyone is the friend of a person 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 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 acquires wisdom loves himself; one who safeguards understanding will find success. | 8To acquire wisdom is to love yourself; people who cherish understanding will prosper. |
| 9A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who pours out lies will perish. | 9A false witness will not go unpunished, and a liar will be destroyed. |
| 10Luxury is unseemly for a fool—how much worse for a slave to rule over princes! | 10It isn’t right for a fool to live in luxury or for a slave to rule over princes! |
| 11A man’s insight gives him patience, and his virtue is to overlook an offense. | 11Sensible people control their temper; they earn respect by overlooking wrongs. |
| 12A king’s rage is like the roar 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 his father’s ruin, and a quarrelsome wife is like a constant dripping. | 13A foolish child is a calamity to a father; a quarrelsome wife is as annoying as constant dripping. |
| 14Houses and wealth are inherited 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 brings on deep sleep, and an idle soul will suffer hunger. | 15Lazy people sleep soundly, but idleness leaves them hungry. |
| 16He who keeps a commandment preserves his soul, but he who is careless in his ways will die. | 16Keep the commandments and keep your life; despising them leads to death. |
| 17Kindness to the poor is a loan to the LORD, and He will repay the lender. | 17If you help the poor, you are lending to the LORD— and he will repay you! |
| 18Discipline your son, for in that there is hope; do not be party to his death. | 18Discipline your children while there is hope. Otherwise you will ruin their lives. |
| 19A man of great anger must pay the penalty; if you rescue him, you will have to do so again. | 19Hot-tempered people must pay the penalty. If you rescue them once, you will have to do it again. |
| 20Listen to counsel and accept discipline, that you may be wise the rest of your days. | 20Get all the advice and instruction you can, so you will be wise the rest of your life. |
| 21Many plans are in a man’s heart, but the purpose of the LORD will prevail. | 21You can make many plans, but the LORD’s purpose will prevail. |
| 22The desire of a man is loving devotion; better to be poor than a liar. | 22Loyalty makes a person attractive. It is better to be poor than dishonest. |
| 23The fear of the LORD leads to life, that one may rest content, without visitation from harm. | 23Fear of the LORD leads to life, bringing security and protection from harm. |
| 24The slacker buries his hand in the dish; he will not even bring it back to his mouth. | 24Lazy people take food in their hand but don’t even lift it to their mouth. |
| 25Strike a mocker, and the simple will beware; rebuke the discerning man, and he will gain 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 assaults his father or evicts his mother is a son who brings shame and disgrace. | 26Children who mistreat their father or chase away their mother are an embarrassment and a public disgrace. |
| 27If you cease to hear instruction, my son, you will stray from the words of knowledge. | 27If you stop listening to instruction, my child, you will turn your back on knowledge. |
| 28A corrupt witness mocks justice, and a wicked mouth swallows iniquity. | 28A corrupt witness makes a mockery of justice; the mouth of the wicked gulps down evil. |
| 29Judgments are prepared for mockers, and beatings for the backs of fools. | 29Punishment is made for mockers, and the backs of fools are made to be beaten. |
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