| New Century Version (NCV) |
New International Version (NIV) |
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1 It is better to eat a dry crust of bread in peace than to have a feast where there is quarreling.
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1 Better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting, with strife.
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2 A wise servant will rule over the master's disgraceful child and will even inherit a share of what the master leaves his children.
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2 A wise servant will rule over a disgraceful son, and will share the inheritance as one of the brothers.
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3 A hot furnace tests silver and gold, but the Lord tests hearts.
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3 The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the LORD tests the heart.
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4 Evil people listen to evil words. Liars pay attention to cruel words.
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4 A wicked man listens to evil lips; a liar pays attention to a malicious tongue.
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5 Whoever mistreats the poor insults their Maker; whoever enjoys someone's trouble will be punished.
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5 He who mocks the poor shows contempt for their Maker; whoever gloats over disaster will not go unpunished.
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6 Old people are proud of their grandchildren, and children are proud of their parents.
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6 Children's children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children.
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7 Fools should not be proud, and rulers should not be liars.
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7 Arrogant lips are unsuited to a fool-- how much worse lying lips to a ruler!
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8 Some people think they can pay others to do anything they ask. They think it will work every time.
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8 A bribe is a charm to the one who gives it; wherever he turns, he succeeds.
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9 Whoever forgives someone's sin makes a friend, but gossiping about the sin breaks up friendships.
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9 He who covers over an offense promotes love, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.
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10 A wise person will learn more from a warning than a fool will learn from a hundred lashings.
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10 A rebuke impresses a man of discernment more than a hundred lashes a fool.
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11 Disobedient people look only for trouble, so a cruel messenger will be sent against them.
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11 An evil man is bent only on rebellion; a merciless official will be sent against him.
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12 It is better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than to meet a fool doing foolish things.
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12 Better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool in his folly.
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13 Whoever gives evil in return for good will always have trouble at home.
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13 If a man pays back evil for good, evil will never leave his house.
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14 Starting a quarrel is like a leak in a dam, so stop it before a fight breaks out.
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14 Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.
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15 The Lord hates both of these things: freeing the guilty and punishing the innocent.
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15 Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent-- the LORD detests them both.
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16 It won't do a fool any good to try to buy wisdom, because he doesn't have the ability to be wise.
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16 Of what use is money in the hand of a fool, since he has no desire to get wisdom?
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17 A friend loves you all the time, and a brother helps in time of trouble.
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17 A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
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18 It is not wise to promise to pay what your neighbor owes.
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18 A man lacking in judgment strikes hands in pledge and puts up security for his neighbor.
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19 Whoever loves to argue loves to sin. Whoever brags a lot is asking for trouble.
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19 He who loves a quarrel loves sin; he who builds a high gate invites destruction.
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20 A person with an evil heart will find no success, and the person whose words are evil will get into trouble.
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20 A man of perverse heart does not prosper; he whose tongue is deceitful falls into trouble.
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21 It is sad to have a foolish child; there is no joy in being the parent of a fool.
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21 To have a fool for a son brings grief; there is no joy for the father of a fool.
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22 A happy heart is like good medicine, but a broken spirit drains your strength.
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22 A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
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23 When the wicked accept money to do wrong there can be no justice.
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23 A wicked man accepts a bribe in secret to pervert the course of justice.
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24 The person with understanding is always looking for wisdom, but the mind of a fool wanders everywhere.
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24 A discerning man keeps wisdom in view, but a fool's eyes wander to the ends of the earth.
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25 A foolish son makes his father sad and causes his mother great sorrow.
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25 A foolish son brings grief to his father and bitterness to the one who bore him.
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26 It is not good to punish the innocent or to beat leaders for being honest.
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26 It is not good to punish an innocent man, or to flog officials for their integrity.
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27 The smart person says very little, and one with understanding stays calm.
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27 A man of knowledge uses words with restraint, and a man of understanding is even-tempered.
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28 Even fools seem to be wise if they keep quiet; if they don't speak, they appear to understand.
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28 Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue.
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| Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. (New Century Version Online Bible) |
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) |
