New Revised Standard NRS
New International Version NIV
15 All the days of the poor are hard, but a cheerful heart has a continual feast.
15
All the days of the oppressed are wretched, but the cheerful heart has a continual feast.
16 Better is a little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble with it.
16
Better a little with the fear of the LORDthan great wealth with turmoil.
17 Better is a dinner of vegetables where love is than a fatted ox and hatred with it.
17
Better a small serving of vegetables with love than a fattened calf with hatred.
18 Those who are hot-tempered stir up strife, but those who are slow to anger calm contention.
18
A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict, but the one who is patient calms a quarrel.
19 The way of the lazy is overgrown with thorns, but the path of the upright is a level highway.
19
The way of the sluggard is blocked with thorns, but the path of the upright is a highway.
20 A wise child makes a glad father, but the foolish despise their mothers.
20
A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish man despises his mother.
21 Folly is a joy to one who has no sense, but a person of understanding walks straight ahead.
21
Folly brings joy to one who has no sense, but whoever has understanding keeps a straight course.
22 Without counsel, plans go wrong, but with many advisers they succeed.
22
Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.
23 To make an apt answer is a joy to anyone, and a word in season, how good it is!
23
A person finds joy in giving an apt reply— and how good is a timely word!
24 For the wise the path of life leads upward, in order to avoid Sheol below.
24
The path of life leads upward for the prudent to keep them from going down to the realm of the dead.
25 The Lord tears down the house of the proud, but maintains the widow's boundaries.
25
The LORD tears down the house of the proud, but he sets the widow’s boundary stones in place.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. 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.