| International Standard Version | NET Bible |
| 1A poor man who walks blamelessly is better than a fool who speaks perversely. | 1Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity than one who is perverse in his speech and is a fool. |
| 2Furthermore, it isn't good to be ignorant, and whoever rushes into things misses the mark. | 2It is dangerous to have zeal without knowledge, and the one who acts hastily makes poor choices. |
| 3A man's foolishness ruins his life, yet his heart rages against the LORD. | 3A person's folly subverts his way, and his heart rages against the LORD. |
| 4Wealth brings many friends, but a poor man is deserted by his friend. | 4Wealth adds many friends, but a poor person is separated from his friend. |
| 5A witness to lies will not go unpunished; the teller of falsehoods will not escape. | 5A false witness will not go unpunished, and the one who spouts out lies will not escape punishment. |
| 6Many curry favor of an official; everyone is a friend of the gift giver. | 6Many people entreat the favor of a generous person, and everyone is the friend of the person who gives gifts. |
| 7All the relatives of a poor person shun him— how much more do his friends avoid him! Though he runs after them pleading, they aren't around. | 7All the relatives of a poor person hate him; how much more do his friends avoid him--he pursues them with words, but they do not respond. |
| 8Whoever obtains wisdom loves himself, and whoever treasures understanding will prosper. | 8The one who acquires wisdom loves himself; the one who preserves understanding will prosper. |
| 9A witness to lies will not go unpunished; the teller of falsehoods will perish. | 9A false witness will not go unpunished, and the one who spouts out lies will perish. |
| 10It's not fitting for a fool to live in luxury; neither is it for a servant to rule over princes. | 10Luxury is not appropriate for a fool; how much less for a servant to rule over princes! |
| 11A person's discretion makes him slow to anger, and it is to his credit that he ignores an offence. | 11A person's wisdom makes him slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense. |
| 12The king's anger is like the roaring of a lion, but his goodwill is like dew on the grass. | 12A king's wrath is like the roar of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass. |
| 13A father's ruin is a foolish son, and a wife's quarreling is like dripping water that never stops. | 13A foolish child is the ruin of his father, and a contentious wife is like a constant dripping. |
| 14A house and self-sufficiency are a father's inheritance, but from the LORD comes an insightful wife. | 14A house and wealth are inherited from parents, but a prudent wife is from the LORD. |
| 15Laziness puts one to sleep, and an idle person will go hungry. | 15Laziness brings on a deep sleep, and the idle person will go hungry. |
| 16Whoever obeys a commandment keeps himself safe, but someone who is contemptuous in conduct will die. | 16The one who obeys commandments guards his life; the one who despises his ways will die. |
| 17Whoever is kind to the poor is lending to the LORD— the benefit of his gift will return to him in abundance. | 17The one who is gracious to the poor lends to the LORD, and the LORD will repay him for his good deed. |
| 18Discipline your son while there is still hope— but don't set your heart on his destruction. | 18Discipline your child, for there is hope, but do not set your heart on causing his death. |
| 19The person who has great anger must pay the consequences, because if you rescue him, you will have to do it again. | 19A person with great anger bears the penalty, but if you deliver him from it once, you will have to do it again. |
| 20Listen to advice and accept discipline, and you'll be wise for the rest of your life. | 20Listen to advice and receive discipline, that you may become wise by the end of your life. |
| 21Many plans occupy the mind of a man, but the LORD's purposes will prevail. | 21There are many plans in a person's mind, but it is the counsel of the LORD which will stand. |
| 22Human beings long for grace, and it's better to be poor than a man of deceit. | 22What is desirable for a person is to show loyal love, and a poor person is better than a liar. |
| 23The fear of the LORD leads to life; whoever is satisfied with it will rest, untouched by evil. | 23Fearing the LORD leads to life, and one who does so will live satisfied; he will not be afflicted by calamity. |
| 24The lazy person buries his hand in his dish and doesn't bother to bring it back to his mouth. | 24The sluggard plunges his hand in the dish, and he will not even bring it back to his mouth! |
| 25If you scourge a scoffer, the simple person may learn to be discreet; rebuke a discerning man and he will gain understanding. | 25Flog a scorner, and as a result the simpleton will learn prudence; correct a discerning person, and as a result he will understand knowledge. |
| 26Whoever mistreats his father and alienates his mother is a son who brings both shame and disrespect. | 26The one who robs his father and chases away his mother is a son who brings shame and disgrace. |
| 27My son, if you stop listening to instruction, you will stray from the principles of knowledge. | 27If you stop listening to instruction, my child, you will stray from the words of knowledge. |
| 28A corrupt witness mocks justice, and the wicked person feeds on iniquity. | 28A crooked witness scorns justice, and the mouth of the wicked devours iniquity. |
| 29Condemnation is appropriate for mockers, just as beatings are for the backs of fools. | 29Judgments are prepared for scorners, and floggings for the backs of fools. |
|
