American Standard Version ASV
New International Version NIV
1 Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity Than he that is perverse in his lips and is a fool.
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Better the poor whose walk is blameless than a fool whose lips are perverse.
2 Also, that the soul be without knowledge is not good; And he that hasteth with his feet sinneth.
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Desire without knowledge is not good— how much more will hasty feet miss the way!
3 The foolishness of man subverteth his way; And his heart fretteth against Jehovah.
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A person’s own folly leads to their ruin, yet their heart rages against the LORD.
4 Wealth addeth many friends; But the poor is separated from his friend.
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Wealth attracts many friends, but even the closest friend of the poor person deserts them.
5 A false witness shall not be unpunished; And he that uttereth lies shall not escape.
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A false witness will not go unpunished, and whoever pours out lies will not go free.
6 Many will entreat the favor of the liberal man; And every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts.
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Many curry favor with a ruler, and everyone is the friend of one who gives gifts.
7 All the brethren of the poor do hate him: How much more do his friends go far from him! He pursueth [them with] words, [but] they are gone.
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The poor are shunned by all their relatives— how much more do their friends avoid them! Though the poor pursue them with pleading, they are nowhere to be found.
8 He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: He that keepeth understanding shall find good.
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The one who gets wisdom loves life; the one who cherishes understanding will soon prosper.
9 A false witness shall not be unpunished; And he that uttereth lies shall perish.
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A false witness will not go unpunished, and whoever pours out lies will perish.
10 Delicate living is not seemly for a fool; Much less for a servant to have rule over princes.
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It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury— how much worse for a slave to rule over princes!
11 The discretion of a man maketh him slow to anger; And it is his glory to pass over a transgression.
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A person’s wisdom yields patience; it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense.
12 The king's wrath is as the roaring of a lion; But his favor is as dew upon the grass.
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A king’s rage is like the roar of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass.
13 A foolish son is the calamity of his father; And the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping.
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A foolish child is a father’s ruin, and a quarrelsome wife is like the constant dripping of a leaky roof.
14 House and riches are an inheritance from fathers; But a prudent wife is from Jehovah.
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Houses and wealth are inherited from parents, but a prudent wife is from the LORD.
15 Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; And the idle soul shall suffer hunger.
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Laziness brings on deep sleep, and the shiftless go hungry.
16 He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his soul; [But] he that is careless of his ways shall die.
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Whoever keeps commandments keeps their life, but whoever shows contempt for their ways will die.
17 He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto Jehovah, And his good deed will he pay him again.
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Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward them for what they have done.
18 Chasten thy son, seeing there is hope; And set not thy heart on his destruction.
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Discipline your children, for in that there is hope; do not be a willing party to their death.
19 A man of great wrath shall bear the penalty; For if thou deliver [him], thou must do it yet again.
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A hot-tempered person must pay the penalty; rescue them, and you will have to do it again.
20 Hear counsel, and receive instruction, That thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.
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Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise.
21 There are many devices in a man's heart; But the counsel of Jehovah, that shall stand.
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Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.
22 That which maketh a man to be desired is his kindness; And a poor man is better than a liar.
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What a person desires is unfailing love ; better to be poor than a liar.
23 The fear of Jehovah [tendeth] to life; And he [that hath it] shall abide satisfied; He shall not be visited with evil.
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The fear of the LORD leads to life; then one rests content, untouched by trouble.
24 The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish, And will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.
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A sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he will not even bring it back to his mouth!
25 Smite a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence; And reprove one that hath understanding, [and] he will understand knowledge.
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Flog a mocker, and the simple will learn prudence; rebuke the discerning, and they will gain knowledge.
26 He that doeth violence to his father, and chaseth away his mother, Is a son that causeth shame and bringeth reproach.
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Whoever robs their father and drives out their mother is a child who brings shame and disgrace.
27 Cease, my son, to hear instruction [Only] to err from the words of knowledge.
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Stop listening to instruction, my son, and you will stray from the words of knowledge.
28 A worthless witness mocketh at justice; And the mouth of the wicked swalloweth iniquity.
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A corrupt witness mocks at justice, and the mouth of the wicked gulps down evil.
29 Judgments are prepared for scoffers, And stripes for the back of fools.
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Penalties are prepared for mockers, and beatings for the backs of fools.
The American Standard Version 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.