| New King James Version | New International Version |
| 1The wicked flee when no one pursues, But the righteous are bold as a lion. | 1The wicked flee though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion. |
| 2Because of the transgression of a land, many are its princes; But by a man of understanding and knowledge Right will be prolonged. | 2When a country is rebellious, it has many rulers, but a ruler with discernment and knowledge maintains order. |
| 3A poor man who oppresses the poor Is like a driving rain which leaves no food. | 3A ruler who oppresses the poor is like a driving rain that leaves no crops. |
| 4Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, But such as keep the law contend with them. | 4Those who forsake instruction praise the wicked, but those who heed it resist them. |
| 5Evil men do not understand justice, But those who seek the LORD understand all. | 5Evildoers do not understand what is right, but those who seek the LORD understand it fully. |
| 6Better is the poor who walks in his integrity Than one perverse in his ways, though he be rich. | 6Better the poor whose walk is blameless than the rich whose ways are perverse. |
| 7Whoever keeps the law is a discerning son, But a companion of gluttons shames his father. | 7A discerning son heeds instruction, but a companion of gluttons disgraces his father. |
| 8One who increases his possessions by usury and extortion Gathers it for him who will pity the poor. | 8Whoever increases wealth by taking interest or profit from the poor amasses it for another, who will be kind to the poor. |
| 9One who turns away his ear from hearing the law, Even his prayer is an abomination. | 9If anyone turns a deaf ear to my instruction, even their prayers are detestable. |
| 10Whoever causes the upright to go astray in an evil way, He himself will fall into his own pit; But the blameless will inherit good. | 10Whoever leads the upright along an evil path will fall into their own trap, but the blameless will receive a good inheritance. |
| 11The rich man is wise in his own eyes, But the poor who has understanding searches him out. | 11The rich are wise in their own eyes; one who is poor and discerning sees how deluded they are. |
| 12When the righteous rejoice, there is great glory; But when the wicked arise, men hide themselves. | 12When the righteous triumph, there is great elation; but when the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding. |
| 13He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy. | 13Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy. |
| 14Happy is the man who is always reverent, But he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity. | 14Blessed is the one who always trembles before God, but whoever hardens their heart falls into trouble. |
| 15Like a roaring lion and a charging bear Is a wicked ruler over poor people. | 15Like a roaring lion or a charging bear is a wicked ruler over a helpless people. |
| 16A ruler who lacks understanding is a great oppressor, But he who hates covetousness will prolong his days. | 16A tyrannical ruler practices extortion, but one who hates ill-gotten gain will enjoy a long reign. |
| 17A man burdened with bloodshed will flee into a pit; Let no one help him. | 17Anyone tormented by the guilt of murder will seek refuge in the grave; let no one hold them back. |
| 18Whoever walks blamelessly will be saved, But he who is perverse in his ways will suddenly fall. | 18The one whose walk is blameless is kept safe, but the one whose ways are perverse will fall into the pit. |
| 19He who tills his land will have plenty of bread, But he who follows frivolity will have poverty enough! | 19Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies will have their fill of poverty. |
| 20A faithful man will abound with blessings, But he who hastens to be rich will not go unpunished. | 20A faithful person will be richly blessed, but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished. |
| 21To show partiality is not good, Because for a piece of bread a man will transgress. | 21To show partiality is not good-- yet a person will do wrong for a piece of bread. |
| 22A man with an evil eye hastens after riches, And does not consider that poverty will come upon him. | 22The stingy are eager to get rich and are unaware that poverty awaits them. |
| 23He who rebukes a man will find more favor afterward Than he who flatters with the tongue. | 23Whoever rebukes a person will in the end gain favor rather than one who has a flattering tongue. |
| 24Whoever robs his father or his mother, And says, “It is no transgression,” The same is companion to a destroyer. | 24Whoever robs their father or mother and says, "It's not wrong," is partner to one who destroys. |
| 25He who is of a proud heart stirs up strife, But he who trusts in the LORD will be prospered. | 25The greedy stir up conflict, but those who trust in the LORD will prosper. |
| 26He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, But whoever walks wisely will be delivered. | 26Those who trust in themselves are fools, but those who walk in wisdom are kept safe. |
| 27He who gives to the poor will not lack, But he who hides his eyes will have many curses. | 27Those who give to the poor will lack nothing, but those who close their eyes to them receive many curses. |
| 28When the wicked arise, men hide themselves; But when they perish, the righteous increase. | 28When the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding; but when the wicked perish, the righteous thrive. |
| 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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