New Century Version NCV
New International Version NIV
1 Evil people run even though no one is chasing them, but good people are as brave as a lion.
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The wicked flee though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion.
2 When a country is lawless, it has one ruler after another; but when it is led by a man with understanding and knowledge, it continues strong.
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When a country is rebellious, it has many rulers, but a ruler with discernment and knowledge maintains order.
3 Rulers who mistreat the poor are like a hard rain that destroys the crops.
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A ruler who oppresses the poor is like a driving rain that leaves no crops.
4 Those who disobey what they have been taught praise the wicked, but those who obey what they have been taught are against them.
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Those who forsake instruction praise the wicked, but those who heed it resist them.
5 Evil people do not understand justice, but those who follow the Lord understand it completely.
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Evildoers do not understand what is right, but those who seek the LORD understand it fully.
6 It is better to be poor and innocent than to be rich and wicked.
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Better the poor whose walk is blameless than the rich whose ways are perverse.
7 Children who obey what they have been taught are smart, but friends of troublemakers disgrace their parents.
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A discerning son heeds instruction, but a companion of gluttons disgraces his father.
8 Some people get rich by overcharging others, but their wealth will be given to those who are kind to the poor.
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Whoever increases wealth by taking interest or profit from the poor amasses it for another, who will be kind to the poor.
9 If you refuse to obey what you have been taught, your prayers will not be heard.
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If anyone turns a deaf ear to my instruction, even their prayers are detestable.
10 Those who lead good people to do wrong will be ruined by their own evil, but the innocent will be rewarded with good things.
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Whoever leads the upright along an evil path will fall into their own trap, but the blameless will receive a good inheritance.
11 Rich people may think they are wise, but the poor with understanding will prove them wrong.
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The rich are wise in their own eyes; one who is poor and discerning sees how deluded they are.
12 When good people triumph, there is great happiness, but when the wicked get control, everybody hides.
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When the righteous triumph, there is great elation; but when the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding.
13 If you hide your sins, you will not succeed. If you confess and reject them, you will receive mercy.
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Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.
14 Those who are always respectful will be happy, but those who are stubborn will get into trouble.
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Blessed is the one who always trembles before God, but whoever hardens their heart falls into trouble.
15 A wicked ruler is as dangerous to poor people as a roaring lion or a charging bear.
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Like a roaring lion or a charging bear is a wicked ruler over a helpless people.
16 A ruler without wisdom will be cruel, but the one who refuses to take dishonest money will rule a long time.
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A tyrannical ruler practices extortion, but one who hates ill-gotten gain will enjoy a long reign.
17 Don't help those who are guilty of murder; let them run until they die.
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Anyone tormented by the guilt of murder will seek refuge in the grave; let no one hold them back.
18 Innocent people will be kept safe, but those who are dishonest will suddenly be ruined.
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The one whose walk is blameless is kept safe, but the one whose ways are perverse will fall into the pit.
19 Those who work their land will have plenty of food, but the ones who chase empty dreams instead will end up poor.
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Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies will have their fill of poverty.
20 A truthful person will have many blessings, but those eager to get rich will be punished.
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A faithful person will be richly blessed, but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished.
21 It is not good for a judge to take sides, but some will sin for only a piece of bread.
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To show partiality is not good— yet a person will do wrong for a piece of bread.
22 Selfish people are in a hurry to get rich and do not realize they soon will be poor.
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The stingy are eager to get rich and are unaware that poverty awaits them.
23 Those who correct others will later be liked more than those who give false praise.
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Whoever rebukes a person will in the end gain favor rather than one who has a flattering tongue.
24 Whoever robs his father or mother and says, "It's not wrong," is just like someone who destroys things.
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Whoever robs their father or mother and says, “It’s not wrong,” is partner to one who destroys.
25 A greedy person causes trouble, but the one who trusts the Lord will succeed.
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The greedy stir up conflict, but those who trust in the LORD will prosper.
26 Those who trust in themselves are foolish, but those who live wisely will be kept safe.
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Those who trust in themselves are fools, but those who walk in wisdom are kept safe.
27 Whoever gives to the poor will have everything he needs, but the one who ignores the poor will receive many curses.
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Those who give to the poor will lack nothing, but those who close their eyes to them receive many curses.
28 When the wicked get control, everybody hides, but when they die, good people do well.
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When the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding; but when the wicked perish, the righteous thrive.
Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.