| NET Bible | New Living Translation |
| 1A good name is to be chosen rather than great wealth, good favor more than silver or gold. | 1Choose a good reputation over great riches; being held in high esteem is better than silver or gold. |
| 2The rich and the poor meet together; the LORD is the creator of them both. | 2The rich and poor have this in common: The LORD made them both. |
| 3A shrewd person sees danger and hides himself, but the naive keep right on going and suffer for it. | 3A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences. |
| 4The reward for humility and fearing the LORD is riches and honor and life. | 4True humility and fear of the LORD lead to riches, honor, and long life. |
| 5Thorns and snares are in the path of the perverse, but the one who guards himself keeps far from them. | 5Corrupt people walk a thorny, treacherous road; whoever values life will avoid it. |
| 6Train a child in the way that he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it. | 6Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it. |
| 7The rich rule 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. |
| 8The one who sows iniquity will reap trouble, and the rod of his fury will end. | 8Those who plant injustice will harvest disaster, and their reign of terror will come to an end. |
| 9A generous person will be blessed, for he gives some of his food to the poor. | 9Blessed are those who are generous, because they feed the poor. |
| 10Drive out the scorner and contention will leave; strife and insults will cease. | 10Throw out the mocker, and fighting goes, too. Quarrels and insults will disappear. |
| 11The one who loves a pure heart and whose speech is gracious--the king will be his friend. | 11Whoever loves a pure heart and gracious speech will have the king as a friend. |
| 12The eyes of the LORD guard knowledge, but he overthrows the words of the faithless person. | 12The LORD preserves those with knowledge, but he ruins the plans of the treacherous. |
| 13The sluggard says, "There is a lion outside! I will be killed in the middle of the streets!" | 13The lazy person claims, “There’s a lion out there! If I go outside, I might be killed!” |
| 14The mouth of an adulteress is like a deep pit; the one against whom the LORD is angry will fall into it. | 14The mouth of an immoral woman is a dangerous trap; those who make the LORD angry will fall into it. |
| 15Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far from him. | 15A youngster’s heart is filled with foolishness, but physical discipline will drive it far away. |
| 16The one who oppresses the poor to increase his own gain and the one who gives to the rich--both end up only in poverty. | 16A person who gets ahead by oppressing the poor or by showering gifts on the rich will end in poverty. Sayings of the Wise |
| 17Incline your ear and listen to the words of the wise, and apply your heart to my instruction. | 17Listen to the words of the wise; apply your heart to my instruction. |
| 18For it is pleasing if you keep these sayings within you, and they are ready on your lips. | 18For it is good to keep these sayings in your heart and always ready on your lips. |
| 19So that your confidence may be in the LORD, I am making them known to you today--even you. | 19I am teaching you today—yes, you— so you will trust in the LORD. |
| 20Have I not written thirty sayings for you, sayings of counsel and knowledge, | 20I have written thirty sayings for you, filled with advice and knowledge. |
| 21to show you true and reliable words, so that you may give accurate answers to those who sent you? | 21In this way, you may know the truth and take an accurate report to those who sent you. |
| 22Do not exploit a poor person because he is poor and do not crush the needy in court, | 22Don’t rob the poor just because you can, or exploit the needy in court. |
| 23for the LORD will plead their case and will rob those who are robbing them. | 23For the LORD is their defender. He will ruin anyone who ruins them. |
| 24Do not make friends with an angry person, and do not associate with a wrathful person, | 24Don’t befriend angry people or associate with hot-tempered people, |
| 25lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare. | 25or you will learn to be like them and endanger your soul. |
| 26Do not be one who strikes hands in pledge or who puts up security for debts. | 26Don’t agree to guarantee another person’s debt or put up security for someone else. |
| 27If you do not have enough to pay, your bed will be taken right out from under you! | 27If you can’t pay it, even your bed will be snatched from under you. |
| 28Do not move an ancient boundary stone which was put in place by your ancestors. | 28Don’t cheat your neighbor by moving the ancient boundary markers set up by previous generations. |
| 29Do you see a person skilled in his work? He will take his position before kings; he will not take his position before obscure people. | 29Do you see any truly competent workers? They will serve kings rather than working for ordinary people. |
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