| New International Reader's Version (NIRV) |
New International Version (NIV) |
|
1 It is better to eat a dry crust of bread in peace and quiet than to eat a big dinner in a house that is full of fighting.
|
1 Better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting, with strife.
|
|
2 A wise servant will rule over a shameful child. He will be given part of the property as if he were a family member.
|
2 A wise servant will rule over a disgraceful son, and will share the inheritance as one of the brothers.
|
|
3 Fire tests silver. Heat tests gold. But the LORD tests our hearts.
|
3 The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the LORD tests the heart.
|
|
4 An evil person listens to evil words. A liar pays attention to words that are harmful.
|
4 A wicked man listens to evil lips; a liar pays attention to a malicious tongue.
|
|
5 Anyone who laughs at those who are poor makes fun of their Maker. Anyone who is happy when others suffer will be punished.
|
5 He who mocks the poor shows contempt for their Maker; whoever gloats over disaster will not go unpunished.
|
|
6 Grandchildren are like a crown to older people. And children are proud of their parents.
|
6 Children's children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children.
|
|
7 It isn't proper for foolish people to brag. And it certainly isn't proper for rulers to tell lies!
|
7 Arrogant lips are unsuited to a fool-- how much worse lying lips to a ruler!
|
|
8 Money buys favors for those who give it. No matter where they turn, they succeed.
|
8 A bribe is a charm to the one who gives it; wherever he turns, he succeeds.
|
|
9 Those who erase a sin by forgiving it show love. But those who talk about it come between close friends.
|
9 He who covers over an offense promotes love, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.
|
|
10 A person who understands what is right learns more from just a warning than a foolish person learns from 100 strokes with a whip.
|
10 A rebuke impresses a man of discernment more than a hundred lashes a fool.
|
|
11 An evil person never wants to obey. An official who shows no mercy will be sent against him.
|
11 An evil man is bent only on rebellion; a merciless official will be sent against him.
|
|
12 It is better to meet a bear whose cubs have been stolen than to meet a foolish person who is acting foolishly.
|
12 Better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool in his folly.
|
|
13 Evil will never leave the house of anyone who pays back evil for good.
|
13 If a man pays back evil for good, evil will never leave his house.
|
|
14 Starting to argue is like making a crack in a dam. So drop the matter before a fight breaks out.
|
14 Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.
|
|
15 The LORD hates two things. He hates it when the guilty are set free. He also hates it when those who aren't guilty are punished.
|
15 Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent-- the LORD detests them both.
|
|
16 What good is money in the hands of a foolish person? He doesn't want to become wise.
|
16 Of what use is money in the hand of a fool, since he has no desire to get wisdom?
|
|
17 A friend loves at all times. He is there to help when trouble comes.
|
17 A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
|
|
18 A man who has little sense agrees to pay what other people owe. It isn't wise to put up money for others.
|
18 A man lacking in judgment strikes hands in pledge and puts up security for his neighbor.
|
|
19 The one who loves to argue loves to sin. The one who builds a high gate is just asking to be destroyed.
|
19 He who loves a quarrel loves sin; he who builds a high gate invites destruction.
|
|
20 If your heart is twisted, you won't succeed. If your tongue tells lies, you will get into trouble.
|
20 A man of perverse heart does not prosper; he whose tongue is deceitful falls into trouble.
|
|
21 It is sad to have a foolish child. The parents of a foolish person have no joy.
|
21 To have a fool for a son brings grief; there is no joy for the father of a fool.
|
|
22 A cheerful heart makes you healthy. But a broken spirit dries you up.
|
22 A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
|
|
23 Anyone who does wrong accepts favors in secret. Then he turns what is right into wrong.
|
23 A wicked man accepts a bribe in secret to pervert the course of justice.
|
|
24 Anyone who understands what is right keeps wisdom in view. But the eyes of a foolish person look everywhere else.
|
24 A discerning man keeps wisdom in view, but a fool's eyes wander to the ends of the earth.
|
|
25 A foolish child makes his father sad and his mother sorry.
|
25 A foolish son brings grief to his father and bitterness to the one who bore him.
|
|
26 It isn't good to punish those who aren't guilty. It isn't good to whip officials just because they are honest.
|
26 It is not good to punish an innocent man, or to flog officials for their integrity.
|
|
27 Anyone who has knowledge controls his words. A man who has understanding is not easily upset.
|
27 A man of knowledge uses words with restraint, and a man of understanding is even-tempered.
|
|
28 We think even a foolish person is wise if he keeps silent. We think he understands what is right if he controls his tongue.
|
28 Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue.
|
| Holy Bible, New International Reader's Version® Copyright © 1995, 1996, 1998 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide. (New International Reader's Version Bible Online) |
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide. (New International Version Bible Online) |
