New King James Version

New Living Translation

1A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, Loving favor 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 the poor have this in common, The LORD is the maker of them all.

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

3A prudent man foresees evil and hides 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 honor 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 perverse; He who guards his soul will 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 rules 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 who sows iniquity will reap sorrow, And the rod of his anger will fail.

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

9He who has a generous eye will be blessed, For he gives of his bread to the poor.

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

10Cast out the scoffer, and contention will leave; Yes, strife and reproach will cease.

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

11He who loves purity of heart And has grace on his lips, 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 preserve knowledge, But He overthrows the words of the faithless.

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

13The lazy man says, “There is a lion outside! 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 an immoral woman is a deep pit; He who is abhorred by the LORD will fall there.

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

15Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; The rod of correction will drive it far from him.

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

16He who oppresses the poor to increase his riches, And he who gives to the rich, will surely come to 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 hear the words of the wise, And apply your heart to my knowledge;

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

18For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you; Let them all be fixed upon your lips,

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

19So that your trust may be in the LORD; I have instructed you today, even you.

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

20Have I not written to you excellent things Of counsels and knowledge,

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

21That I may make you know the certainty of the words of truth, That you may answer words of truth To those who send to you?

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

22Do not rob the poor because he is poor, Nor oppress the afflicted at 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 plunder the soul of those who plunder 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 do not go,

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

25Lest you learn his ways And set a snare for your soul.

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

26Do not be one of those who shakes hands in a pledge, One of those who is surety for debts;

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

27If you have nothing with which to pay, Why should he take away your bed from under you?

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

28Do not remove the ancient landmark Which your fathers have set.

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

29Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before unknown men.

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

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

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.