| Berean Study Bible | New Living Translation |
| 1A good name is more desirable than great riches; favor is better than silver and gold. | 1Choose a good reputation over great riches; being held in high esteem is better than silver or gold. |
| 2The rich and the poor have this in common: The LORD is Maker of them all. | 2The rich and poor have this in common: The LORD made them both. |
| 3The prudent see danger and take cover, but the simple keep going and suffer the consequences. | 3A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences. |
| 4The rewards of humility and the fear of the LORD are wealth and honor and life. | 4True humility and fear of the LORD lead to riches, honor, and long life. |
| 5Thorns and snares lie on the path of the perverse; he who guards his soul stays far from them. | 5Corrupt people walk a thorny, treacherous road; whoever values life will avoid it. |
| 6Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it. | 6Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it. |
| 7The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender. | 7Just as the rich rule the poor, so the borrower is servant to the lender. |
| 8He who sows injustice will reap disaster, and the rod of his fury will be destroyed. | 8Those who plant injustice will harvest disaster, and their reign of terror will come to an end. |
| 9A generous man will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor. | 9Blessed are those who are generous, because they feed the poor. |
| 10Drive out the mocker, and conflict will depart; even quarreling and insults will cease. | 10Throw out the mocker, and fighting goes, too. Quarrels and insults will disappear. |
| 11He who loves a pure heart and gracious lips will have the king for a friend. | 11Whoever loves a pure heart and gracious speech will have the king as a friend. |
| 12The LORD’s eyes keep watch over knowledge, but He frustrates the words of the faithless. | 12The LORD preserves those with knowledge, but he ruins the plans of the treacherous. |
| 13The slacker says, “There is a lion outside! I will be slain in the streets!” | 13The lazy person claims, “There’s a lion out there! If I go outside, I might be killed!” |
| 14The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit; he who is under the wrath of the LORD will fall into it. | 14The mouth of an immoral woman is a dangerous trap; those who make the LORD angry will fall into it. |
| 15Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him. | 15A youngster’s heart is filled with foolishness, but physical discipline will drive it far away. |
| 16Oppressing the poor to enrich oneself or giving gifts to the rich will surely lead to poverty. | 16A person who gets ahead by oppressing the poor or by showering gifts on the rich will end in poverty. Sayings of the Wise |
| 17Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise—apply your mind to my knowledge— | 17Listen to the words of the wise; apply your heart to my instruction. |
| 18for it is pleasing when you keep them within you and they are constantly on your lips. | 18For it is good to keep these sayings in your heart and always ready on your lips. |
| 19So that your trust may be in the LORD, I instruct you today—yes, you. | 19I am teaching you today—yes, you— so you will trust in the LORD. |
| 20Have I not written for you thirty sayings about counsel and knowledge, | 20I have written thirty sayings for you, filled with advice and knowledge. |
| 21to show you true and reliable words, that you may soundly answer those who sent you? | 21In this way, you may know the truth and take an accurate report to those who sent you. |
| 22Do not rob a poor man because he is poor, and do not crush the afflicted at the gate, | 22Don’t rob the poor just because you can, or exploit the needy in court. |
| 23for the LORD will take up their case and will plunder those who rob them. | 23For the LORD is their defender. He will ruin anyone who ruins them. |
| 24Do not make friends with an angry man, and do not associate with a hot-tempered man, | 24Don’t befriend angry people or associate with hot-tempered people, |
| 25or you may learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare. | 25or you will learn to be like them and endanger your soul. |
| 26Do not be one who gives pledges, who puts up security for debts. | 26Don’t agree to guarantee another person’s debt or put up security for someone else. |
| 27If you have nothing with which to pay, why should your bed be taken from under you? | 27If you can’t pay it, even your bed will be snatched from under you. |
| 28Do not move an ancient boundary stone which your fathers have placed. | 28Don’t cheat your neighbor by moving the ancient boundary markers set up by previous generations. |
| 29Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will be stationed in the presence of kings; he will not stand before obscure men. | 29Do you see any truly competent workers? They will serve kings rather than working for ordinary people. |
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