| New King James Version | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1A wise son heeds his father’s instruction, But a scoffer does not listen to rebuke. | 1A wise son responds to his father's discipline, but a mocker doesn't listen to rebuke. |
| 2A man shall eat well by the fruit of his mouth, But the soul of the unfaithful feeds on violence. | 2From the words of his mouth, a man will enjoy good things, but treacherous people have an appetite for violence. |
| 3He who guards his mouth preserves his life, But he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction. | 3The one who guards his mouth protects his life; the one who opens his lips invites his own ruin. |
| 4The soul of a lazy man desires, and has nothing; But the soul of the diligent shall be made rich. | 4The slacker craves, yet has nothing, but the diligent is fully satisfied. |
| 5A righteous man hates lying, But a wicked man is loathsome and comes to shame. | 5The righteous hate lying, but the wicked act disgustingly and disgracefully. |
| 6Righteousness guards him whose way is blameless, But wickedness overthrows the sinner. | 6Righteousness guards people of integrity, but wickedness undermines the sinner. |
| 7There is one who makes himself rich, yet has nothing; And one who makes himself poor, yet has great riches. | 7One man pretends to be rich but has nothing; another pretends to be poor but has great wealth. |
| 8The ransom of a man’s life is his riches, But the poor does not hear rebuke. | 8Riches are a ransom for a man's life, but a poor man hears no threat. |
| 9The light of the righteous rejoices, But the lamp of the wicked will be put out. | 9The light of the righteous shines brightly, but the lamp of the wicked is put out. |
| 10By pride comes nothing but strife, But with the well-advised is wisdom. | 10Arrogance leads to nothing but strife, but wisdom is gained by those who take advice. |
| 11Wealth gained by dishonesty will be diminished, But he who gathers by labor will increase. | 11Wealth obtained by fraud will dwindle, but whoever earns it through labor will multiply it. |
| 12Hope deferred makes the heart sick, But when the desire comes, it is a tree of life. | 12Delayed hope makes the heart sick, but fulfilled desire is a tree of life. |
| 13He who despises the word will be destroyed, But he who fears the commandment will be rewarded. | 13The one who has contempt for instruction will pay the penalty, but the one who respects a command will be rewarded. |
| 14The law of the wise is a fountain of life, To turn one away from the snares of death. | 14A wise man's instruction is a fountain of life, turning people away from the snares of death. |
| 15Good understanding gains favor, But the way of the unfaithful is hard. | 15Good sense wins favor, but the way of the treacherous never changes. |
| 16Every prudent man acts with knowledge, But a fool lays open his folly. | 16Every sensible person acts knowledgeably, but a fool displays his stupidity. |
| 17A wicked messenger falls into trouble, But a faithful ambassador brings health. | 17A wicked messenger falls into trouble, but a trustworthy courier brings healing. |
| 18Poverty and shame will come to him who disdains correction, But he who regards a rebuke will be honored. | 18Poverty and disgrace come to those who ignore discipline, but the one who accepts correction will be honored. |
| 19A desire accomplished is sweet to the soul, But it is an abomination to fools to depart from evil. | 19Desire fulfilled is sweet to the taste, but to turn from evil is an abomination to fools. |
| 20He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will be destroyed. | 20The one who walks with the wise will become wise, but a companion of fools will suffer harm. |
| 21Evil pursues sinners, But to the righteous, good shall be repaid. | 21Disaster pursues sinners, but good rewards the righteous. |
| 22A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, But the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous. | 22A good man leaves an inheritance to his grandchildren, but the sinner's wealth is stored up for the righteous. |
| 23Much food is in the fallow ground of the poor, And for lack of justice there is waste. | 23The uncultivated field of the poor yields abundant food, but without justice, it is swept away. |
| 24He who spares his rod hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines him promptly. | 24The one who will not use the rod hates his son, but the one who loves him disciplines him diligently. |
| 25The righteous eats to the satisfying of his soul, But the stomach of the wicked shall be in want. | 25A righteous man eats until he is satisfied, but the stomach of the wicked is empty. |
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