English Standard Version

Christian Standard Bible

1Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool.

1Better a poor person who lives with integrity than someone who has deceitful lips and is a fool.

2Desire without knowledge is not good, and whoever makes haste with his feet misses his way.

2Even zeal is not good without knowledge, and the one who acts hastily sins.

3When a man’s folly brings his way to ruin, his heart rages against the LORD.

3A person's own foolishness leads him astray, yet his heart rages against the LORD.

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

4Wealth attracts many friends, but a poor person is separated from his friend.

5A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies will not escape.

5A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who utters lies will not escape.

6Many seek the favor of a generous man, and everyone is a friend to a man who gives gifts.

6Many seek a ruler's favor, and everyone is a friend of one who gives gifts.

7All a poor man’s brothers hate him; how much more do his friends go far from him! He pursues them with words, but does not have them.

7All the brothers of a poor person hate him; how much more do his friends keep their distance from him! He may pursue them with words, but they are not there.

8Whoever gets sense loves his own soul; he who keeps understanding will discover good.

8The one who acquires good sense loves himself; one who safeguards understanding finds success.

9A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies will perish.

9A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who utters lies perishes.

10It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury, much less for a slave to rule over princes.

10Luxury is not appropriate for a fool-- how much less for a slave to rule over princes!

11Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.

11A person's insight gives him patience, and his virtue is to overlook an offense.

12A king’s wrath is like the growling of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass.

12A king's rage is like the roaring of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass.

13A foolish son is ruin to his father, and a wife’s quarreling is a continual dripping of rain.

13A foolish son is his father's ruin, and a wife's nagging is an endless dripping.

14House and wealth are inherited from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the LORD.

14A house and wealth are inherited from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the LORD.

15Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep, and an idle person will suffer hunger.

15Laziness induces deep sleep, and a lazy person will go hungry.

16Whoever keeps the commandment keeps his life; he who despises his ways will die.

16The one who keeps commands preserves himself; one who disregards his ways will die.

17Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will repay him for his deed.

17Kindness to the poor is a loan to the LORD, and he will give a reward to the lender.

18Discipline your son, for there is hope; do not set your heart on putting him to death.

18Discipline your son while there is hope; don't set your heart on being the cause of his death.

19A man of great wrath will pay the penalty, for if you deliver him, you will only have to do it again.

19A person with intense anger bears the penalty; if you rescue him, you'll have to do it again.

20Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future.

20Listen to counsel and receive instruction so that you may be wise later in life.

21Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand.

21Many plans are in a person's heart, but the LORD's decree will prevail.

22What is desired in a man is steadfast love, and a poor man is better than a liar.

22What is desirable in a person is his fidelity; better to be a poor person than a liar.

23The fear of the LORD leads to life, and whoever has it rests satisfied; he will not be visited by harm.

23The fear of the LORD leads to life; one will sleep at night without danger.

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

24The slacker buries his hand in the bowl; he doesn't even bring it back to his mouth!

25Strike a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence; reprove a man of understanding, and he will gain knowledge.

25Strike a mocker, and the inexperienced learn a lesson; rebuke the discerning, and he gains knowledge.

26He who does violence to his father and chases away his mother is a son who brings shame and reproach.

26The one who plunders his father and evicts his mother is a disgraceful and shameful son.

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

27If you stop listening to correction, my son, you will stray from the words of knowledge.

28A worthless witness mocks at justice, and the mouth of the wicked devours iniquity.

28A worthless witness mocks justice, and a wicked mouth swallows iniquity.

29Condemnation is ready for scoffers, and beating for the backs of fools.

29Judgments are prepared for mockers, and beatings for the backs of fools.

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.