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