English Standard Version

New Living Translation

1Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool.

1Better to be poor and honest than to be dishonest and a fool.

2Desire without knowledge is not good, and whoever makes haste with his feet misses his way.

2Enthusiasm without knowledge is no good; haste makes mistakes.

3When a man’s folly brings his way to ruin, his heart rages against the LORD.

3People ruin their lives by their own foolishness and then are angry at the LORD.

4Wealth brings many new friends, but a poor man is deserted by his friend.

4Wealth makes many “friends”; poverty drives them all away.

5A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies will not escape.

5A false witness will not go unpunished, nor will a liar escape.

6Many seek the favor of a generous man, and everyone is a friend to a man who gives gifts.

6Many seek favors from a ruler; everyone is the friend of a person who gives gifts!

7All a poor man’s brothers hate him; how much more do his friends go far from him! He pursues them with words, but does not have them.

7The relatives of the poor despise them; how much more will their friends avoid them! Though the poor plead with them, their friends are gone.

8Whoever gets sense loves his own soul; he who keeps understanding will discover good.

8To acquire wisdom is to love yourself; people who cherish understanding will prosper.

9A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies will perish.

9A false witness will not go unpunished, and a liar will be destroyed.

10It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury, much less for a slave to rule over princes.

10It isn’t right for a fool to live in luxury or for a slave to rule over princes!

11Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.

11Sensible people control their temper; they earn respect by overlooking wrongs.

12A king’s wrath is like the growling of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass.

12The king’s anger is like a lion’s roar, but his favor is like dew on the grass.

13A foolish son is ruin to his father, and a wife’s quarreling is a continual dripping of rain.

13A foolish child is a calamity to a father; a quarrelsome wife is as annoying as constant dripping.

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

14Fathers can give their sons an inheritance of houses and wealth, but only the LORD can give an understanding wife.

15Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep, and an idle person will suffer hunger.

15Lazy people sleep soundly, but idleness leaves them hungry.

16Whoever keeps the commandment keeps his life; he who despises his ways will die.

16Keep the commandments and keep your life; despising them leads to death.

17Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will repay him for his deed.

17If you help the poor, you are lending to the LORD— and he will repay you!

18Discipline your son, for there is hope; do not set your heart on putting him to death.

18Discipline your children while there is hope. Otherwise you will ruin their lives.

19A man of great wrath will pay the penalty, for if you deliver him, you will only have to do it again.

19Hot-tempered people must pay the penalty. If you rescue them once, you will have to do it again.

20Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future.

20Get all the advice and instruction you can, so you will be wise the rest of your life.

21Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand.

21You can make many plans, but the LORD’s purpose will prevail.

22What is desired in a man is steadfast love, and a poor man is better than a liar.

22Loyalty makes a person attractive. It is better to be poor than dishonest.

23The fear of the LORD leads to life, and whoever has it rests satisfied; he will not be visited by harm.

23Fear of the LORD leads to life, bringing security and protection from harm.

24The sluggard buries his hand in the dish and will not even bring it back to his mouth.

24Lazy people take food in their hand but don’t even lift it to their mouth.

25Strike a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence; reprove a man of understanding, and he will gain knowledge.

25If you punish a mocker, the simpleminded will learn a lesson; if you correct the wise, they will be all the wiser.

26He who does violence to his father and chases away his mother is a son who brings shame and reproach.

26Children who mistreat their father or chase away their mother are an embarrassment and a public disgrace.

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

27If you stop listening to instruction, my child, you will turn your back on knowledge.

28A worthless witness mocks at justice, and the mouth of the wicked devours iniquity.

28A corrupt witness makes a mockery of justice; the mouth of the wicked gulps down evil.

29Condemnation is ready for scoffers, and beating for the backs of fools.

29Punishment is made for mockers, and the backs of fools are made to be beaten.

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. 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.