| New International Version | NET Bible |
| 1A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold. | 1A good name is to be chosen rather than great wealth, good favor more than silver or gold. |
| 2Rich and poor have this in common: The LORD is the Maker of them all. | 2The rich and the poor meet together; the LORD is the creator of them both. |
| 3The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty. | 3A shrewd person sees danger and hides himself, but the naive keep right on going and suffer for it. |
| 4Humility is the fear of the LORD; its wages are riches and honor and life. | 4The reward for humility and fearing the LORD is riches and honor and life. |
| 5In the paths of the wicked are snares and pitfalls, but those who would preserve their life stay far from them. | 5Thorns and snares are in the path of the perverse, but the one who guards himself keeps far from them. |
| 6Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it. | 6Train a child in the way that he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it. |
| 7The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender. | 7The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender. |
| 8Whoever sows injustice reaps calamity, and the rod they wield in fury will be broken. | 8The one who sows iniquity will reap trouble, and the rod of his fury will end. |
| 9The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor. | 9A generous person will be blessed, for he gives some of his food to the poor. |
| 10Drive out the mocker, and out goes strife; quarrels and insults are ended. | 10Drive out the scorner and contention will leave; strife and insults will cease. |
| 11One who loves a pure heart and who speaks with grace will have the king for a friend. | 11The one who loves a pure heart and whose speech is gracious--the king will be his friend. |
| 12The eyes of the LORD keep watch over knowledge, but he frustrates the words of the unfaithful. | 12The eyes of the LORD guard knowledge, but he overthrows the words of the faithless person. |
| 13The sluggard says, "There's a lion outside! I'll be killed in the public square!" | 13The sluggard says, "There is a lion outside! I will be killed in the middle of the streets!" |
| 14The mouth of an adulterous woman is a deep pit; a man who is under the LORD's wrath falls into it. | 14The mouth of an adulteress is like a deep pit; the one against whom the LORD is angry will fall into it. |
| 15Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far away. | 15Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far from him. |
| 16One who oppresses the poor to increase his wealth and one who gives gifts to the rich--both come to poverty. | 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. |
| 17Pay attention and turn your ear to the sayings of the wise; apply your heart to what I teach, | 17Incline your ear and listen to the words of the wise, and apply your heart to my instruction. |
| 18for it is pleasing when you keep them in your heart and have all of them ready on your lips. | 18For it is pleasing if you keep these sayings within you, and they are ready on your lips. |
| 19So that your trust may be in the LORD, I teach you today, even you. | 19So that your confidence may be in the LORD, I am making them known to you today--even you. |
| 20Have I not written thirty sayings for you, sayings of counsel and knowledge, | 20Have I not written thirty sayings for you, sayings of counsel and knowledge, |
| 21teaching you to be honest and to speak the truth, so that you bring back truthful reports to those you serve? | 21to show you true and reliable words, so that you may give accurate answers to those who sent you? |
| 22Do not exploit the poor because they are poor and do not crush the needy in court, | 22Do not exploit a poor person because he is poor and do not crush the needy in court, |
| 23for the LORD will take up their case and will exact life for life. | 23for the LORD will plead their case and will rob those who are robbing them. |
| 24Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person, do not associate with one easily angered, | 24Do not make friends with an angry person, and do not associate with a wrathful person, |
| 25or you may learn their ways and get yourself ensnared. | 25lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare. |
| 26Do not be one who shakes hands in pledge or puts up security for debts; | 26Do not be one who strikes hands in pledge or who puts up security for debts. |
| 27if you lack the means to pay, your very bed will be snatched from under you. | 27If you do not have enough to pay, your bed will be taken right out from under you! |
| 28Do not move an ancient boundary stone set up by your ancestors. | 28Do not move an ancient boundary stone which was put in place by your ancestors. |
| 29Do you see someone skilled in their work? They will serve before kings; they will not serve before officials of low rank. | 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. |
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