| International Standard Version | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1A poor man who walks blamelessly is better than a fool who speaks perversely. | 1Better a poor man who lives with integrity than someone who has deceitful lips and is a fool. |
| 2Furthermore, it isn't good to be ignorant, and whoever rushes into things misses the mark. | 2Even zeal is not good without knowledge, and the one who acts hastily sins. |
| 3A man's foolishness ruins his life, yet his heart rages against the LORD. | 3A man's own foolishness leads him astray, yet his heart rages against the LORD. |
| 4Wealth brings many friends, but a poor man is deserted by his friend. | 4Wealth attracts many friends, but a poor man is separated from his friend. |
| 5A witness to lies will not go unpunished; the teller of falsehoods will not escape. | 5A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who utters lies will not escape. |
| 6Many curry favor of an official; everyone is a friend of the gift giver. | 6Many seek a ruler's favor, and everyone is a friend of one who gives gifts. |
| 7All the relatives of a poor person shun him— how much more do his friends avoid him! Though he runs after them pleading, they aren't around. | 7All the brothers of a poor man hate him; how much more do his friends keep their distance from him! He may pursue them with words, but they are not there. |
| 8Whoever obtains wisdom loves himself, and whoever treasures understanding will prosper. | 8The one who acquires good sense loves himself; one who safeguards understanding finds success. |
| 9A witness to lies will not go unpunished; the teller of falsehoods will perish. | 9A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who utters lies perishes. |
| 10It's not fitting for a fool to live in luxury; neither is it for a servant to rule over princes. | 10Luxury is not appropriate for a fool-- how much less for a slave to rule over princes! |
| 11A person's discretion makes him slow to anger, and it is to his credit that he ignores an offence. | 11A person's insight gives him patience, and his virtue is to overlook an offense. |
| 12The king's anger is like the roaring of a lion, but his goodwill 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 father's ruin is a foolish son, and a wife's quarreling is like dripping water that never stops. | 13A foolish son is his father's ruin, and a wife's nagging is an endless dripping. |
| 14A house and self-sufficiency are a father's inheritance, but from the LORD comes an insightful wife. | 14A house and wealth are inherited from fathers, but a sensible wife is from the LORD. |
| 15Laziness puts one to sleep, and an idle person will go hungry. | 15Laziness induces deep sleep, and a lazy person will go hungry. |
| 16Whoever obeys a commandment keeps himself safe, but someone who is contemptuous in conduct will die. | 16The one who keeps commands preserves himself; one who disregards his ways will die. |
| 17Whoever is kind to the poor is lending to the LORD— the benefit of his gift will return to him in abundance. | 17Kindness to the poor is a loan to the LORD, and He will give a reward to the lender. |
| 18Discipline your son while there is still hope— but don't set your heart on his destruction. | 18Discipline your son while there is hope; don't be intent on killing him. |
| 19The person who has great anger must pay the consequences, because if you rescue him, you will have to do it again. | 19A person with great anger bears the penalty; if you rescue him, you'll have to do it again. |
| 20Listen to advice and accept discipline, and you'll be wise for the rest of your life. | 20Listen to counsel and receive instruction so that you may be wise later in life. |
| 21Many plans occupy the mind of a man, but the LORD's purposes will prevail. | 21Many plans are in a man's heart, but the LORD's decree will prevail. |
| 22Human beings long for grace, and it's better to be poor than a man of deceit. | 22What is desirable in a man is his fidelity; better to be a poor man than a liar. |
| 23The fear of the LORD leads to life; whoever is satisfied with it will rest, untouched by evil. | 23The fear of the LORD leads to life; one will sleep at night without danger. |
| 24The lazy person buries his hand in his dish and doesn't bother to bring it back to his mouth. | 24The slacker buries his hand in the bowl; he doesn't even bring it back to his mouth. |
| 25If you scourge a scoffer, the simple person may learn to be discreet; rebuke a discerning man and he will gain understanding. | 25Strike a mocker, and the inexperienced learn a lesson; rebuke the discerning, and he gains knowledge. |
| 26Whoever mistreats his father and alienates his mother is a son who brings both shame and disrespect. | 26The one who assaults his father and evicts his mother is a disgraceful and shameful son. |
| 27My son, if you stop listening to instruction, you will stray from the principles of knowledge. | 27If you stop listening to correction, my son, you will stray from the words of knowledge. |
| 28A corrupt witness mocks justice, and the wicked person feeds on iniquity. | 28A worthless witness mocks justice, and a wicked mouth swallows iniquity. |
| 29Condemnation is appropriate for mockers, just as beatings are for the backs of fools. | 29Judgments are prepared for mockers, and beatings for the backs of fools. |
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