New King James Version

Christian Standard Bible

1Better is the poor who walks in his integrity Than one who 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 it is not good for a soul to be without knowledge, And he sins who hastens with his feet.

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

3The foolishness of a man twists his way, And his heart frets against the LORD.

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

4Wealth makes many friends, But the poor is separated from his friend.

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

5A false witness will not go unpunished, And he who speaks lies will not escape.

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

6Many entreat the favor of the nobility, And every man is a friend to one who gives gifts.

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

7All the brothers of the poor hate him; How much more do his friends go far from him! He may pursue them with words, yet they abandon 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 who gets wisdom loves his own soul; He who keeps understanding will find good.

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

9A false witness will not go unpunished, And he who speaks lies shall perish.

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

10Luxury is not fitting for a fool, Much less for a servant to 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 makes him slow to anger, And his glory is to overlook a transgression.

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

12The king’s wrath is like the roaring of a lion, But his favor is like dew on 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 ruin of his father, And the contentions of a wife are a continual dripping.

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

14Houses and riches are an inheritance from fathers, But a prudent wife is from the LORD.

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

15Laziness casts one into a deep sleep, And an idle person will suffer hunger.

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

16He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, But he who is careless of his ways will die.

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

17He who has pity on the poor lends to the LORD, And He will pay back what he has given.

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

18Chasten your son while there is hope, And do not set your heart on his destruction.

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

19A man of great wrath will suffer punishment; For if you rescue him, you will have to do it again.

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

20Listen to counsel and receive instruction, That you may be wise in your latter days.

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

21There are many plans in a man’s heart, Nevertheless the LORD’s counsel—that will stand.

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

22What is desired in a man is 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 leads to life, And he who has it will abide in satisfaction; He will not be visited with evil.

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

24A lazy man buries his hand in the bowl, 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!

25Strike a scoffer, and the simple will become wary; Rebuke one who has understanding, and he will discern knowledge.

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

26He who mistreats his father and chases away his mother Is a son who causes shame and brings reproach.

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

27Cease listening to instruction, my son, And you will stray from the words of knowledge.

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

28A disreputable witness scorns justice, And the mouth of the wicked devours iniquity.

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

29Judgments are prepared for scoffers, And beatings for the backs of fools.

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

The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.

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