King James Version KJV
Good News Translation GNT
1 The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.
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These are Solomon's proverbs: Wise children make their fathers proud of them; foolish ones bring their mothers grief.
2 Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivereth from death.
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Wealth you get by dishonesty will do you no good, but honesty can save your life.
3 The LORD will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish: but he casteth away the substance of the wicked.
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The Lord will not let good people go hungry, but he will keep the wicked from getting what they want.
4 He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.
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Being lazy will make you poor, but hard work will make you rich.
5 He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame.
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A sensible person gathers the crops when they are ready; it is a disgrace to sleep through the time of harvest.
6 Blessings are upon the head of the just: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.
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Good people will receive blessings. The words of the wicked hide a violent nature.
7 The memory of the just is blessed: but the name of the wicked shall rot.
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Good people will be remembered as a blessing, but the wicked will soon be forgotten.
8 The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall.
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Sensible people accept good advice. People who talk foolishly will come to ruin.
9 He that walketh uprightly walketh surely: but he that perverteth his ways shall be known.
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Honest people are safe and secure, but the dishonest will be caught.
10 He that winketh with the eye causeth sorrow: but a prating fool shall fall.
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Someone who holds back the truth causes trouble, but one who openly criticizes works for peace.
11 The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.
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A good person's words are a fountain of life, but a wicked person's words hide a violent nature.
12 Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.
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Hate stirs up trouble, but love forgives all offenses.
13 In the lips of him that hath understanding wisdom is found: but a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding.
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Intelligent people talk sense, but stupid people need to be punished.
14 Wise men lay up knowledge: but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction.
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The wise get all the knowledge they can, but when fools speak, trouble is not far off.
15 The rich man's wealth is his strong city: the destruction of the poor is their poverty.
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Wealth protects the rich; poverty destroys the poor.
16 The labour of the righteous tendeth to life: the fruit of the wicked to sin.
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The reward for doing good is life, but sin leads only to more sin.
17 He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth reproof erreth.
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People who listen when they are corrected will live, but those who will not admit that they are wrong are in danger.
18 He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool.
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Anyone who hides hatred is a liar. Anyone who spreads gossip is a fool.
19 In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.
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The more you talk, the more likely you are to sin. If you are wise, you will keep quiet.
20 The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth.
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A good person's words are like pure silver; a wicked person's ideas are worthless.
21 The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom.
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A good person's words will benefit many people, but you can kill yourself with stupidity.
22 The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.
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It is the Lord's blessing that makes you wealthy. Hard work can make you no richer.
23 It is as sport to a fool to do mischief: but a man of understanding hath wisdom.
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It is foolish to enjoy doing wrong. Intelligent people take pleasure in wisdom.
24 The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him: but the desire of the righteous shall be granted.
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The righteous get what they want, but the wicked will get what they fear most.
25 As the whirlwind passeth, so is the wicked no more: but the righteous is an everlasting foundation.
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Storms come, and the wicked are blown away, but honest people are always safe.
26 As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to them that send him.
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Never get a lazy person to do something for you; he will be as irritating as vinegar on your teeth or smoke in your eyes.
27 The fear of the LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.
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Obey the Lord, and you will live longer. The wicked die before their time.
28 The hope of the righteous shall be gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish.
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The hopes of good people lead to joy, but wicked people can look forward to nothing.
29 The way of the LORD is strength to the upright: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.
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The Lord protects honest people, but destroys those who do wrong.
30 The righteous shall never be removed: but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth.
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Righteous people will always have security, but the wicked will not survive in the land.
31 The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom: but the froward tongue shall be cut out.
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Righteous people speak wisdom, but the tongue that speaks evil will be stopped.
32 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaketh frowardness.
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Righteous people know the kind thing to say, but the wicked are always saying things that hurt.
The King James Version is in the public domain.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.