King James Bible

Christian Standard Bible

1Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.

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

2Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good; and he that hasteth with his feet sinneth.

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

3The foolishness of man perverteth his way: and his heart fretteth against the LORD.

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

4Wealth maketh many friends; but the poor is separated from his neighbour.

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

5A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape.

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

6Many will intreat the favour of the prince: and every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts.

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

7All the brethren of the poor do hate him: how much more do his friends go far from him? he pursueth them with words, yet they are wanting to him.

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.

8He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: he that keepeth understanding shall find good.

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

9A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall perish.

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

10Delight is not seemly for a fool; much less for a servant to have rule over princes.

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

11The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression.

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

12The king's wrath is as the roaring of a lion; but his favour is as dew upon 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 the calamity of his father: and the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping.

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

14House and riches are the inheritance of fathers: and a prudent wife is from the LORD.

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

15Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger.

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

16He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his own soul; but he that despiseth his ways shall die.

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

17He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.

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

18Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.

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

19A man of great wrath shall suffer punishment: for if thou deliver him, yet thou must do it again.

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

20Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.

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

21There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.

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

22The desire of a man is his kindness: 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 tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.

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

24A slothful man hideth his hand in his bosom, and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.

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

25Smite a scorner, and the simple will beware: and reprove one that hath understanding, and he will understand knowledge.

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

26He that wasteth his father, and chaseth away his mother, is a son that causeth shame, and bringeth reproach.

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

27Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge.

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

28An ungodly witness scorneth judgment: and the mouth of the wicked devoureth iniquity.

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

29Judgments are prepared for scorners, and stripes for the back of fools.

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

King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.

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