| The Darby Translation (DBY) | New International Version (NIV) |
| 1 A wise son [heareth] his father's instruction; but a scorner heareth not rebuke. | 1 A wise son heeds his father's instruction, but a mocker does not listen to rebuke. |
| 2 A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth; but the soul of the treacherous, violence. | 2 From the fruit of his lips a man enjoys good things, but the unfaithful have a craving for violence. |
| 3 He that guardeth his mouth keepeth his soul; destruction shall be to him that openeth wide his lips. | 3 He who guards his lips guards his life, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin. |
| 4 A sluggard's soul desireth and hath nothing; but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat. | 4 The sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied. |
| 5 A righteous [man] hateth lying; but the wicked maketh himself odious and cometh to shame. | 5 The righteous hate what is false, but the wicked bring shame and disgrace. |
| 6 Righteousness preserveth him that is perfect in the way; but wickedness overthroweth the sinner. | 6 Righteousness guards the man of integrity, but wickedness overthrows the sinner. |
| 7 There is that feigneth himself rich, and hath nothing; there is that maketh himself poor, and hath great wealth. | 7 One man pretends to be rich, yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth. |
| 8 The ransom of a man's life is his riches; but the indigent heareth not rebuke. | 8 A man's riches may ransom his life, but a poor man hears no threat. |
| 9 The light of the righteous rejoiceth; but the lamp of the wicked shall be put out. | 9 The light of the righteous shines brightly, but the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out. |
| 10 By pride there only cometh contention; but with the well-advised is wisdom. | 10 Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice. |
| 11 Wealth [gotten] by vanity diminisheth; but he that gathereth by manual-labour shall increase [it]. | 11 Dishonest money dwindles away, but he who gathers money little by little makes it grow. |
| 12 Hope deferred maketh the heart sick; but the desire [that] cometh to pass is a tree of life. | 12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life. |
| 13 Whoso despiseth the word shall be held by it; but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded. | 13 He who scorns instruction will pay for it, but he who respects a command is rewarded. |
| 14 The teaching of the wise [man] is a fountain of life, to turn away from the snares of death. | 14 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death. |
| 15 Good understanding procureth favour; but the way of the treacherous is hard. | 15 Good understanding wins favor, but the way of the unfaithful is hard. |
| 16 Every prudent [man] acteth with knowledge; but the foolish layeth open [his] folly. | 16 Every prudent man acts out of knowledge, but a fool exposes his folly. |
| 17 A wicked messenger falleth into evil; but a faithful ambassador is health. | 17 A wicked messenger falls into trouble, but a trustworthy envoy brings healing. |
| 18 Poverty and shame shall be [to] him that refuseth instruction; but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured. | 18 He who ignores discipline comes to poverty and shame, but whoever heeds correction is honored. |
| 19 The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul; but it is abomination to the foolish to depart from evil. | 19 A longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but fools detest turning from evil. |
| 20 He that walketh with wise [men] becometh wise; but a companion of the foolish will be depraved. | 20 He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm. |
| 21 Evil pursueth sinners; but to the righteous good shall be repaid. | 21 Misfortune pursues the sinner, but prosperity is the reward of the righteous. |
| 22 A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children; but the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the righteous [man]. | 22 A good man leaves an inheritance for his children's children, but a sinner's wealth is stored up for the righteous. |
| 23 Much food is in the tillage of the poor; but there is that is lost for want of judgment. | 23 A poor man's field may produce abundant food, but injustice sweeps it away. |
| 24 He that spareth his rod hateth his son; but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes. | 24 He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him. |
| 25 The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul; but the belly of the wicked shall want. | 25 The righteous eat to their hearts' content, but the stomach of the wicked goes hungry. |
| The Darby Translation is in the public domain. (The Darby Translation 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) |