| New King James Version (NKJV) |
New International Version (NIV) |
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1 Better is the poor who walks in his integrity Than one who is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.
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1 Better a poor man whose walk is blameless than a fool whose lips are perverse.
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2 Also it is not good for a soul to be without knowledge, And he sins who hastens with his feet.
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2 It is not good to have zeal without knowledge, nor to be hasty and miss the way.
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3 The foolishness of a man twists his way, And his heart frets against the Lord.
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3 A man's own folly ruins his life, yet his heart rages against the LORD.
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4 Wealth makes many friends, But the poor is separated from his friend.
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4 Wealth brings many friends, but a poor man's friend deserts him.
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5 A false witness will not go unpunished, And he who speaks lies will not escape.
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5 A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who pours out lies will not go free.
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6 Many entreat the favor of the nobility, And every man is a friend to one who gives gifts.
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6 Many curry favor with a ruler, and everyone is the friend of a man who gives gifts.
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7 All the brothers of the poor hate him; How much more do his friends go far from him! He may pursue them with words, yet they abandon him.
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7 A poor man is shunned by all his relatives-- how much more do his friends avoid him! Though he pursues them with pleading, they are nowhere to be found.
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8 He who gets wisdom loves his own soul; He who keeps understanding will find good.
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8 He who gets wisdom loves his own soul; he who cherishes understanding prospers.
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9 A false witness will not go unpunished, And he who speaks lies shall perish.
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9 A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who pours out lies will perish.
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10 Luxury is not fitting for a fool, Much less for a servant to rule over princes.
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10 It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury-- how much worse for a slave to rule over princes!
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11 The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger, And his glory is to overlook a transgression.
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11 A man's wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense.
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12 The king's wrath is like the roaring of a lion, But his favor is like dew on the grass.
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12 A king's rage is like the roar of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass.
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13 A foolish son is the ruin of his father, And the contentions of a wife are a continual dripping.
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13 A foolish son is his father's ruin, and a quarrelsome wife is like a constant dripping.
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14 Houses and riches are an inheritance from fathers, But a prudent wife is from the Lord.
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14 Houses and wealth are inherited from parents, but a prudent wife is from the LORD.
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15 Laziness casts one into a deep sleep, And an idle person will suffer hunger.
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15 Laziness brings on deep sleep, and the shiftless man goes hungry.
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16 He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, But he who is careless of his ways will die.
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16 He who obeys instructions guards his life, but he who is contemptuous of his ways will die.
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17 He who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord, And He will pay back what he has given.
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17 He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward him for what he has done.
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18 Chasten your son while there is hope, And do not set your heart on his destruction.
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18 Discipline your son, for in that there is hope; do not be a willing party to his death.
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19 A man of great wrath will suffer punishment; For if you rescue him, you will have to do it again.
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19 A hot-tempered man must pay the penalty; if you rescue him, you will have to do it again.
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20 Listen to counsel and receive instruction, That you may be wise in your latter days.
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20 Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise.
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21 There are many plans in a man's heart, Nevertheless the Lord's counsel--that will stand.
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21 Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails.
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22 What is desired in a man is kindness, And a poor man is better than a liar.
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22 What a man desires is unfailing love; better to be poor than a liar.
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23 The fear of the Lord leads to life, And he who has it will abide in satisfaction; He will not be visited with evil.
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23 The fear of the LORD leads to life: Then one rests content, untouched by trouble.
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24 A lazy man buries his hand in the bowl, And will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.
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24 The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he will not even bring it back to his mouth!
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25 Strike a scoffer, and the simple will become wary; Rebuke one who has understanding, and he will discern knowledge.
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25 Flog a mocker, and the simple will learn prudence; rebuke a discerning man, and he will gain knowledge.
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26 He who mistreats his father and chases away his mother Is a son who causes shame and brings reproach.
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26 He who robs his father and drives out his mother is a son who brings shame and disgrace.
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27 Cease listening to instruction, my son, And you will stray from the words of knowledge.
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27 Stop listening to instruction, my son, and you will stray from the words of knowledge.
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28 A disreputable witness scorns justice, And the mouth of the wicked devours iniquity.
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28 A corrupt witness mocks at justice, and the mouth of the wicked gulps down evil.
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29 Judgments are prepared for scoffers, And beatings for the backs of fools.
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29 Penalties are prepared for mockers, and beatings for the backs of fools.
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| Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. (New King James Version) |
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) |
