Young's Literal Translation YLT
New International Version NIV
1 The wicked have fled and there is no pursuer. And the righteous as a young lion is confident.
1
The wicked flee though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion.
2 By the transgression of a land many [are] its heads. And by an intelligent man, Who knoweth right -- it is prolonged.
2
When a country is rebellious, it has many rulers, but a ruler with discernment and knowledge maintains order.
3 A man -- poor and oppressing the weak, [Is] a sweeping rain, and there is no bread.
3
A ruler who oppresses the poor is like a driving rain that leaves no crops.
4 Those forsaking the law praise the wicked, Those keeping the law plead against them.
4
Those who forsake instruction praise the wicked, but those who heed it resist them.
5 Evil men understand not judgment, And those seeking Jehovah understand all.
5
Evildoers do not understand what is right, but those who seek the LORD understand it fully.
6 Better [is] the poor walking in his integrity, Than the perverse of ways who is rich.
6
Better the poor whose walk is blameless than the rich whose ways are perverse.
7 Whoso is keeping the law is an intelligent son, And a friend of gluttons, Doth cause his father to blush.
7
A discerning son heeds instruction, but a companion of gluttons disgraces his father.
8 Whoso is multiplying his wealth by biting and usury, For one favouring the poor doth gather it.
8
Whoever increases wealth by taking interest or profit from the poor amasses it for another, who will be kind to the poor.
9 Whoso is turning his ear from hearing the law, Even his prayer [is] an abomination.
9
If anyone turns a deaf ear to my instruction, even their prayers are detestable.
10 Whoso is causing the upright to err in an evil way, Into his own pit he doth fall, And the perfect do inherit good.
10
Whoever leads the upright along an evil path will fall into their own trap, but the blameless will receive a good inheritance.
11 A rich man is wise in his own eyes, And the intelligent poor searcheth him.
11
The rich are wise in their own eyes; one who is poor and discerning sees how deluded they are.
12 In the exulting of the righteous the glory [is] abundant, And in the rising of the wicked man is apprehensive.
12
When the righteous triumph, there is great elation; but when the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding.
13 Whoso is covering his transgressions prospereth not, And he who is confessing and forsaking hath mercy.
13
Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.
14 O the happiness of a man fearing continually, And whoso is hardening his heart falleth into evil.
14
Blessed is the one who always trembles before God, but whoever hardens their heart falls into trouble.
15 A growling lion, and a ranging bear, [Is] the wicked ruler over a poor people.
15
Like a roaring lion or a charging bear is a wicked ruler over a helpless people.
16 A leader lacking understanding multiplieth oppressions, Whoso is hating dishonest gain prolongeth days.
16
A tyrannical ruler practices extortion, but one who hates ill-gotten gain will enjoy a long reign.
17 A man oppressed with the blood of a soul, Unto the pit fleeth, none taketh hold on him.
17
Anyone tormented by the guilt of murder will seek refuge in the grave; let no one hold them back.
18 Whoso is walking uprightly is saved, And the perverted of ways falleth at once.
18
The one whose walk is blameless is kept safe, but the one whose ways are perverse will fall into the pit.
19 Whoso is tilling his ground is satisfied [with] bread, And whoso is pursuing vanity, Is filled [with] poverty.
19
Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies will have their fill of poverty.
20 A stedfast man hath multiplied blessings, And whoso is hasting to be rich is not acquitted.
20
A faithful person will be richly blessed, but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished.
21 To discern faces is not good, And for a piece of bread doth a man transgress.
21
To show partiality is not good— yet a person will do wrong for a piece of bread.
22 Troubled for wealth [is] the man [with] an evil eye, And he knoweth not that want doth meet him.
22
The stingy are eager to get rich and are unaware that poverty awaits them.
23 Whoso is reproving a man afterwards findeth grace, More than a flatterer with the tongue.
23
Whoever rebukes a person will in the end gain favor rather than one who has a flattering tongue.
24 Whoso is robbing his father, or his mother, And is saying, `It is not transgression,' A companion he is to a destroyer.
24
Whoever robs their father or mother and says, “It’s not wrong,” is partner to one who destroys.
25 Whoso is proud in soul stirreth up contention, And whoso is trusting on Jehovah is made fat.
25
The greedy stir up conflict, but those who trust in the LORD will prosper.
26 Whoso is trusting in his heart is a fool, And whoso is walking in wisdom is delivered.
26
Those who trust in themselves are fools, but those who walk in wisdom are kept safe.
27 Whoso is giving to the poor hath no lack, And whoso is hiding his eyes multiplied curses.
27
Those who give to the poor will lack nothing, but those who close their eyes to them receive many curses.
28 In the rising of the wicked a man is hidden, And in their destruction the righteous multiply!
28
When the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding; but when the wicked perish, the righteous thrive.
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.