English Standard Version

New American Standard Bible 1995

1A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold.

1A good name is to be more desired than great wealth, Favor is better than silver and gold.

2The rich and the poor meet together; the LORD is the Maker of them all.

2The rich and the poor have a common bond, The LORD is the maker of them all.

3The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it.

3The prudent sees the evil and hides himself, But the naive go on, and are punished for it.

4The reward for humility and fear of the LORD is riches and honor and life.

4The reward of humility and the fear of the LORD Are riches, honor and life.

5Thorns and snares are in the way of the crooked; whoever guards his soul will keep far from them.

5Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse; He who guards himself will be far from them.

6Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.

6Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it.

7The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender.

7The rich rules over the poor, And the borrower becomes the lender's slave.

8Whoever sows injustice will reap calamity, and the rod of his fury will fail.

8He who sows iniquity will reap vanity, And the rod of his fury will perish.

9Whoever has a bountiful eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor.

9He who is generous will be blessed, For he gives some of his food to the poor.

10Drive out a scoffer, and strife will go out, and quarreling and abuse will cease.

10Drive out the scoffer, and contention will go out, Even strife and dishonor will cease.

11He who loves purity of heart, and whose speech is gracious, will have the king as his friend.

11He who loves purity of heart And whose speech is gracious, the king is his friend.

12The eyes of the LORD keep watch over knowledge, but he overthrows the words of the traitor.

12The eyes of the LORD preserve knowledge, But He overthrows the words of the treacherous man.

13The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside! I shall be killed in the streets!”

13The sluggard says, "There is a lion outside; I will be killed in the streets!"

14The mouth of forbidden women is a deep pit; he with whom the LORD is angry will fall into it.

14The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit; He who is cursed of the LORD will fall into it.

15Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him.

15Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; The rod of discipline will remove it far from him.

16Whoever oppresses the poor to increase his own wealth, or gives to the rich, will only come to poverty.

16He who oppresses the poor to make more for himself Or who gives to the rich, will only come to poverty.

17Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart to my knowledge,

17Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise, And apply your mind to my knowledge;

18for it will be pleasant if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips.

18For it will be pleasant if you keep them within you, That they may be ready on your lips.

19That your trust may be in the LORD, I have made them known to you today, even to you.

19So that your trust may be in the LORD, I have taught you today, even you.

20Have I not written for you thirty sayings of counsel and knowledge,

20Have I not written to you excellent things Of counsels and knowledge,

21to make you know what is right and true, that you may give a true answer to those who sent you?

21To make you know the certainty of the words of truth That you may correctly answer him who sent you?

22Do not rob the poor, because he is poor, or crush the afflicted at the gate,

22Do not rob the poor because he is poor, Or crush the afflicted at the gate;

23for the LORD will plead their cause and rob of life those who rob them.

23For the LORD will plead their case And take the life of those who rob them.

24Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man,

24Do not associate with a man given to anger; Or go with a hot-tempered man,

25lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare.

25Or you will learn his ways And find a snare for yourself.

26Be not one of those who give pledges, who put up security for debts.

26Do not be among those who give pledges, Among those who become guarantors for debts.

27If you have nothing with which to pay, why should your bed be taken from under you?

27If you have nothing with which to pay, Why should he take your bed from under you?

28Do not move the ancient landmark that your fathers have set.

28Do not move the ancient boundary Which your fathers have set.

29Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men.

29Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before obscure men.

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.

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org