New Living Translation

New American Standard Bible 1995

1Choose a good reputation over great riches; being held in high esteem is better than silver or gold.

1A good name is to be more desired than great wealth, Favor is better than silver and gold.

2The rich and poor have this in common: The LORD made them both.

2The rich and the poor have a common bond, The LORD is the maker of them all.

3A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.

3The prudent sees the evil and hides himself, But the naive go on, and are punished for it.

4True humility and fear of the LORD lead to riches, honor, and long life.

4The reward of humility and the fear of the LORD Are riches, honor and life.

5Corrupt people walk a thorny, treacherous road; whoever values life will avoid it.

5Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse; He who guards himself will be far from them.

6Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it.

6Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it.

7Just as the rich rule the poor, so the borrower is servant to the lender.

7The rich rules over the poor, And the borrower becomes the lender's slave.

8Those who plant injustice will harvest disaster, and their reign of terror will come to an end.

8He who sows iniquity will reap vanity, And the rod of his fury will perish.

9Blessed are those who are generous, because they feed the poor.

9He who is generous will be blessed, For he gives some of his food to the poor.

10Throw out the mocker, and fighting goes, too. Quarrels and insults will disappear.

10Drive out the scoffer, and contention will go out, Even strife and dishonor will cease.

11Whoever loves a pure heart and gracious speech will have the king as a friend.

11He who loves purity of heart And whose speech is gracious, the king is his friend.

12The LORD preserves those with knowledge, but he ruins the plans of the treacherous.

12The eyes of the LORD preserve knowledge, But He overthrows the words of the treacherous man.

13The lazy person claims, “There’s a lion out there! If I go outside, I might be killed!”

13The sluggard says, "There is a lion outside; I will be killed in the streets!"

14The mouth of an immoral woman is a dangerous trap; those who make the LORD angry will fall into it.

14The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit; He who is cursed of the LORD will fall into it.

15A youngster’s heart is filled with foolishness, but physical discipline will drive it far away.

15Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; The rod of discipline will remove it far from him.

16A person who gets ahead by oppressing the poor or by showering gifts on the rich will end in poverty. Sayings of the Wise

16He who oppresses the poor to make more for himself Or who gives to the rich, will only come to poverty.

17Listen to the words of the wise; apply your heart to my instruction.

17Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise, And apply your mind to my knowledge;

18For it is good to keep these sayings in your heart and always ready on your lips.

18For it will be pleasant if you keep them within you, That they may be ready on your lips.

19I am teaching you today—yes, you— so you will trust in the LORD.

19So that your trust may be in the LORD, I have taught you today, even you.

20I have written thirty sayings for you, filled with advice and knowledge.

20Have I not written to you excellent things Of counsels and knowledge,

21In this way, you may know the truth and take an accurate report to those who sent you.

21To make you know the certainty of the words of truth That you may correctly answer him who sent you?

22Don’t rob the poor just because you can, or exploit the needy in court.

22Do not rob the poor because he is poor, Or crush the afflicted at the gate;

23For the LORD is their defender. He will ruin anyone who ruins them.

23For the LORD will plead their case And take the life of those who rob them.

24Don’t befriend angry people or associate with hot-tempered people,

24Do not associate with a man given to anger; Or go with a hot-tempered man,

25or you will learn to be like them and endanger your soul.

25Or you will learn his ways And find a snare for yourself.

26Don’t agree to guarantee another person’s debt or put up security for someone else.

26Do not be among those who give pledges, Among those who become guarantors for debts.

27If you can’t pay it, even your bed will be snatched from under you.

27If you have nothing with which to pay, Why should he take your bed from under you?

28Don’t cheat your neighbor by moving the ancient boundary markers set up by previous generations.

28Do not move the ancient boundary Which your fathers have set.

29Do you see any truly competent workers? They will serve kings rather than working for ordinary people.

29Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before obscure men.

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.

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org