| King James Bible | New Living Translation |
| 1A wise son heareth his father's instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke. | 1A wise child accepts a parent’s discipline; a mocker refuses to listen to correction. |
| 2A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth: but the soul of the transgressors shall eat violence. | 2Wise words will win you a good meal, but treacherous people have an appetite for violence. |
| 3He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction. | 3Those who control their tongue will have a long life; opening your mouth can ruin everything. |
| 4The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat. | 4Lazy people want much but get little, but those who work hard will prosper. |
| 5A righteous man hateth lying: but a wicked man is loathsome, and cometh to shame. | 5The godly hate lies; the wicked cause shame and disgrace. |
| 6Righteousness keepeth him that is upright in the way: but wickedness overthroweth the sinner. | 6Godliness guards the path of the blameless, but the evil are misled by sin. |
| 7There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches. | 7Some who are poor pretend to be rich; others who are rich pretend to be poor. |
| 8The ransom of a man's life are his riches: but the poor heareth not rebuke. | 8The rich can pay a ransom for their lives, but the poor won’t even get threatened. |
| 9The light of the righteous rejoiceth: but the lamp of the wicked shall be put out. | 9The life of the godly is full of light and joy, but the light of the wicked will be snuffed out. |
| 10Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom. | 10Pride leads to conflict; those who take advice are wise. |
| 11Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase. | 11Wealth from get-rich-quick schemes quickly disappears; wealth from hard work grows over time. |
| 12Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life. | 12Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life. |
| 13Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded. | 13People who despise advice are asking for trouble; those who respect a command will succeed. |
| 14The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death. | 14The instruction of the wise is like a life-giving fountain; those who accept it avoid the snares of death. |
| 15Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard. | 15A person with good sense is respected; a treacherous person is headed for destruction. |
| 16Every prudent man dealeth with knowledge: but a fool layeth open his folly. | 16Wise people think before they act; fools don’t—and even brag about their foolishness. |
| 17A wicked messenger falleth into mischief: but a faithful ambassador is health. | 17An unreliable messenger stumbles into trouble, but a reliable messenger brings healing. |
| 18Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured. | 18If you ignore criticism, you will end in poverty and disgrace; if you accept correction, you will be honored. |
| 19The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul: but it is abomination to fools to depart from evil. | 19It is pleasant to see dreams come true, but fools refuse to turn from evil to attain them. |
| 20He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed. | 20Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble. |
| 21Evil pursueth sinners: but to the righteous good shall be repayed. | 21Trouble chases sinners, while blessings reward the righteous. |
| 22A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just. | 22Good people leave an inheritance to their grandchildren, but the sinner’s wealth passes to the godly. |
| 23Much food is in the tillage of the poor: but there is that is destroyed for want of judgment. | 23A poor person’s farm may produce much food, but injustice sweeps it all away. |
| 24He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes. | 24Those who spare the rod of discipline hate their children. Those who love their children care enough to discipline them. |
| 25The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul: but the belly of the wicked shall want. | 25The godly eat to their hearts’ content, but the belly of the wicked goes hungry. |
| King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com. | 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. |
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