Young's Literal Translation YLT
New International Version NIV
1 A wise son -- the instruction of a father, And a scorner -- he hath not heard rebuke.
1
A wise son heeds his father’s instruction, but a mocker does not respond to rebukes.
2 From the fruit of the mouth a man eateth good, And the soul of the treacherous -- violence.
2
From the fruit of their lips people enjoy good things, but the unfaithful have an appetite for violence.
3 Whoso is keeping his mouth, is keeping his soul, Whoso is opening wide his lips -- ruin to him!
3
Those who guard their lips preserve their lives, but those who speak rashly will come to ruin.
4 The soul of the slothful is desiring, and hath not. And the soul of the diligent is made fat.
4
A sluggard’s appetite is never filled, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.
5 A false word the righteous hateth, And the wicked causeth abhorrence, and is confounded.
5
The righteous hate what is false, but the wicked make themselves a stench and bring shame on themselves.
6 Righteousness keepeth him who is perfect in the way, And wickedness overthroweth a sin offering.
6
Righteousness guards the person of integrity, but wickedness overthrows the sinner.
7 There is who is making himself rich, and hath nothing, Who is making himself poor, and wealth [is] abundant.
7
One person pretends to be rich, yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.
8 The ransom of a man's life [are] his riches, And the poor hath not heard rebuke.
8
A person’s riches may ransom their life, but the poor cannot respond to threatening rebukes.
9 The light of the righteous rejoiceth, And the lamp of the wicked is extinguished.
9
The light of the righteous shines brightly, but the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out.
10 A vain man through pride causeth debate, And with the counselled [is] wisdom.
10
Where there is strife, there is pride, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.
11 Wealth from vanity becometh little, And whoso is gathering by the hand becometh great.
11
Dishonest money dwindles away, but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow.
12 Hope prolonged is making the heart sick, And a tree of life [is] the coming desire.
12
Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.
13 Whoso is despising the Word is destroyed for it, And whoso is fearing the Command is repayed.
13
Whoever scorns instruction will pay for it, but whoever respects a command is rewarded.
14 The law of the wise [is] a fountain of life, To turn aside from snares of death.
14
The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, turning a person from the snares of death.
15 Good understanding giveth grace, And the way of the treacherous [is] hard.
15
Good judgment wins favor, but the way of the unfaithful leads to their destruction.
16 Every prudent one dealeth with knowledge, And a fool spreadeth out folly.
16
All who are prudent act with knowledge, but fools expose their folly.
17 A wicked messenger falleth into evil, And a faithful ambassador is healing.
17
A wicked messenger falls into trouble, but a trustworthy envoy brings healing.
18 Whoso is refusing instruction -- poverty and shame, And whoso is observing reproof is honoured.
18
Whoever disregards discipline comes to poverty and shame, but whoever heeds correction is honored.
19 A desire accomplished is sweet to the soul, And an abomination to fools [is]: Turn from evil.
19
A longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but fools detest turning from evil.
20 Whoso is walking with wise men is wise, And a companion of fools suffereth evil.
20
Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.
21 Evil pursueth sinners, And good recompenseth the righteous.
21
Trouble pursues the sinner, but the righteous are rewarded with good things.
22 A good man causeth sons' sons to inherit, And laid up for the righteous [is] the sinner's wealth.
22
A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children, but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous.
23 Abundance of food -- the tillage of the poor, And substance is consumed without judgment.
23
An unplowed field produces food for the poor, but injustice sweeps it away.
24 Whoso is sparing his rod is hating his son, And whoso is loving him hath hastened him chastisement.
24
Whoever spares the rod hates their children, but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them.
25 The righteous is eating to the satiety of his soul, And the belly of the wicked lacketh!
25
The righteous eat to their hearts’ content, but the stomach of the wicked goes hungry.
Young's Literal Translation is in the public domain.
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.