| New King James Version | New International Version |
| 1A wise son heeds his father’s instruction, But a scoffer does not listen to rebuke. | 1A wise son heeds his father's instruction, but a mocker does not respond to rebukes. |
| 2A man shall eat well by the fruit of his mouth, But the soul of the unfaithful feeds on violence. | 2From the fruit of their lips people enjoy good things, but the unfaithful have an appetite for violence. |
| 3He who guards his mouth preserves his life, But he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction. | 3Those who guard their lips preserve their lives, but those who speak rashly will come to ruin. |
| 4The soul of a lazy man desires, and has nothing; But the soul of the diligent shall be made rich. | 4A sluggard's appetite is never filled, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied. |
| 5A righteous man hates lying, But a wicked man is loathsome and comes to shame. | 5The righteous hate what is false, but the wicked make themselves a stench and bring shame on themselves. |
| 6Righteousness guards him whose way is blameless, But wickedness overthrows the sinner. | 6Righteousness guards the person of integrity, but wickedness overthrows the sinner. |
| 7There is one who makes himself rich, yet has nothing; And one who makes himself poor, yet has great riches. | 7One person pretends to be rich, yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth. |
| 8The ransom of a man’s life is his riches, But the poor does not hear rebuke. | 8A person's riches may ransom their life, but the poor cannot respond to threatening rebukes. |
| 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 snuffed out. |
| 10By pride comes nothing but strife, But with the well-advised is wisdom. | 10Where there is strife, there is pride, but wisdom is found in those who take advice. |
| 11Wealth gained by dishonesty will be diminished, But he who gathers by labor will increase. | 11Dishonest money dwindles away, but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow. |
| 12Hope deferred makes the heart sick, But when the desire comes, it is a tree of life. | 12Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life. |
| 13He who despises the word will be destroyed, But he who fears the commandment will be rewarded. | 13Whoever scorns instruction will pay for it, but whoever respects a command is rewarded. |
| 14The law of the wise is a fountain of life, To turn one away from the snares of death. | 14The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, turning a person from the snares of death. |
| 15Good understanding gains favor, But the way of the unfaithful is hard. | 15Good judgment wins favor, but the way of the unfaithful leads to their destruction. |
| 16Every prudent man acts with knowledge, But a fool lays open his folly. | 16All who are prudent act with knowledge, but fools expose their folly. |
| 17A wicked messenger falls into trouble, But a faithful ambassador brings health. | 17A wicked messenger falls into trouble, but a trustworthy envoy brings healing. |
| 18Poverty and shame will come to him who disdains correction, But he who regards a rebuke will be honored. | 18Whoever disregards discipline comes to poverty and shame, but whoever heeds correction is honored. |
| 19A desire accomplished is sweet to the soul, But it is an abomination to fools to depart from evil. | 19A longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but fools detest turning from evil. |
| 20He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will be destroyed. | 20Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm. |
| 21Evil pursues sinners, But to the righteous, good shall be repaid. | 21Trouble pursues the sinner, but the righteous are rewarded with good things. |
| 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 person leaves an inheritance for their children's children, but a 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. | 23An unplowed field produces food for the poor, but injustice sweeps it away. |
| 24He who spares his rod hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines him promptly. | 24Whoever spares the rod hates their children, but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them. |
| 25The righteous eats to the satisfying of his soul, But the stomach of the wicked shall be in want. | 25The righteous eat to their hearts' content, but the stomach of the wicked goes hungry. |
| The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. | New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. |
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