King James Bible

New Living Translation

1A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather 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 poor meet together: the LORD is the maker of them all.

2The rich and poor have this in common: The LORD made them both.

3A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.

3A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.

4By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.

4True humility and fear of the LORD lead to riches, honor, and long life.

5Thorns and snares are in the way of the froward: he that doth keep his soul shall be 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 ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.

7Just as the rich rule the poor, so the borrower is servant to the lender.

8He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail.

8Those who plant injustice will harvest disaster, and their reign of terror will come to an end.

9He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.

9Blessed are those who are generous, because they feed the poor.

10Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease.

10Throw out the mocker, and fighting goes, too. Quarrels and insults will disappear.

11He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.

11Whoever loves a pure heart and gracious speech will have the king as a friend.

12The eyes of the LORD preserve knowledge, and he overthroweth the words of the transgressor.

12The LORD preserves those with knowledge, but he ruins the plans of the treacherous.

13The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall 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 strange women is a deep pit: he that is abhorred of the LORD shall fall therein.

14The mouth of an immoral woman is a dangerous trap; those who make the LORD angry will fall into it.

15Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.

15A youngster’s heart is filled with foolishness, but physical discipline will drive it far away.

16He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want.

16A person who gets ahead by oppressing the poor or by showering gifts on the rich will end in poverty. Sayings of the Wise

17Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge.

17Listen to the words of the wise; apply your heart to my instruction.

18For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips.

18For it is good to keep these sayings in your heart and always ready on your lips.

19That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee.

19I am teaching you today—yes, you— so you will trust in the LORD.

20Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge,

20I have written thirty sayings for you, filled with advice and knowledge.

21That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?

21In this way, you may know the truth and take an accurate report to those who sent you.

22Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:

22Don’t rob the poor just because you can, or exploit the needy in court.

23For the LORD will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them.

23For the LORD is their defender. He will ruin anyone who ruins them.

24Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go:

24Don’t befriend angry people or associate with hot-tempered people,

25Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.

25or you will learn to be like them and endanger your soul.

26Be not thou one of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts.

26Don’t agree to guarantee another person’s debt or put up security for someone else.

27If thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?

27If you can’t pay it, even your bed will be snatched from under you.

28Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.

28Don’t cheat your neighbor by moving the ancient boundary markers set up by previous generations.

29Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.

29Do you see any truly competent workers? They will serve kings rather than working for ordinary people.

King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.