| New King James Version | New Living Translation |
| 1He who is often rebuked, and hardens his neck, Will suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy. | 1Whoever stubbornly refuses to accept criticism will suddenly be destroyed beyond recovery. |
| 2When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. | 2When the godly are in authority, the people rejoice. But when the wicked are in power, they groan. |
| 3Whoever loves wisdom makes his father rejoice, But a companion of harlots wastes his wealth. | 3The man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father, but if he hangs around with prostitutes, his wealth is wasted. |
| 4The king establishes the land by justice, But he who receives bribes overthrows it. | 4A just king gives stability to his nation, but one who demands bribes destroys it. |
| 5A man who flatters his neighbor Spreads a net for his feet. | 5To flatter friends is to lay a trap for their feet. |
| 6By transgression an evil man is snared, But the righteous sings and rejoices. | 6Evil people are trapped by sin, but the righteous escape, shouting for joy. |
| 7The righteous considers the cause of the poor, But the wicked does not understand such knowledge. | 7The godly care about the rights of the poor; the wicked don’t care at all. |
| 8Scoffers set a city aflame, But wise men turn away wrath. | 8Mockers can get a whole town agitated, but the wise will calm anger. |
| 9If a wise man contends with a foolish man, Whether the fool rages or laughs, there is no peace. | 9If a wise person takes a fool to court, there will be ranting and ridicule but no satisfaction. |
| 10The bloodthirsty hate the blameless, But the upright seek his well-being. | 10The bloodthirsty hate blameless people, but the upright seek to help them. |
| 11A fool vents all his feelings, But a wise man holds them back. | 11Fools vent their anger, but the wise quietly hold it back. |
| 12If a ruler pays attention to lies, All his servants become wicked. | 12If a ruler pays attention to liars, all his advisers will be wicked. |
| 13The poor man and the oppressor have this in common: The LORD gives light to the eyes of both. | 13The poor and the oppressor have this in common— the LORD gives sight to the eyes of both. |
| 14The king who judges the poor with truth, His throne will be established forever. | 14If a king judges the poor fairly, his throne will last forever. |
| 15The rod and rebuke give wisdom, But a child left to himself brings shame to his mother. | 15To discipline a child produces wisdom, but a mother is disgraced by an undisciplined child. |
| 16When the wicked are multiplied, transgression increases; But the righteous will see their fall. | 16When the wicked are in authority, sin flourishes, but the godly will live to see their downfall. |
| 17Correct your son, and he will give you rest; Yes, he will give delight to your soul. | 17Discipline your children, and they will give you peace of mind and will make your heart glad. |
| 18Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; But happy is he who keeps the law. | 18When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild. But whoever obeys the law is joyful. |
| 19A servant will not be corrected by mere words; For though he understands, he will not respond. | 19Words alone will not discipline a servant; the words may be understood, but they are not heeded. |
| 20Do you see a man hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him. | 20There is more hope for a fool than for someone who speaks without thinking. |
| 21He who pampers his servant from childhood Will have him as a son in the end. | 21A servant pampered from childhood will become a rebel. |
| 22An angry man stirs up strife, And a furious man abounds in transgression. | 22An angry person starts fights; a hot-tempered person commits all kinds of sin. |
| 23A man’s pride will bring him low, But the humble in spirit will retain honor. | 23Pride ends in humiliation, while humility brings honor. |
| 24Whoever is a partner with a thief hates his own life; He swears to tell the truth, but reveals nothing. | 24If you assist a thief, you only hurt yourself. You are sworn to tell the truth, but you dare not testify. |
| 25The fear of man brings a snare, But whoever trusts in the LORD shall be safe. | 25Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but trusting the LORD means safety. |
| 26Many seek the ruler’s favor, But justice for man comes from the LORD. | 26Many seek the ruler’s favor, but justice comes from the LORD. |
| 27An unjust man is an abomination to the righteous, And he who is upright in the way is an abomination to the wicked. | 27The righteous despise the unjust; the wicked despise the godly. |
| The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. 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. |
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