New International Version NIV
New International Reader's Version NIRV
1 Better the poor whose walk is blameless than a fool whose lips are perverse.
1
It is better to be poor and to live without blame than to be foolish and to twist words around.
2 Desire without knowledge is not good— how much more will hasty feet miss the way!
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It isn't good to get all stirred up without knowledge. And it isn't good to be in a hurry and miss the way.
3 A person’s own folly leads to their ruin, yet their heart rages against the LORD.
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A man's own foolish acts destroy his life. But his heart is angry with the Lord.
4 Wealth attracts many friends, but even the closest friend of the poor person deserts them.
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Wealth brings many friends. But the friends of poor people leave them alone.
5 A false witness will not go unpunished, and whoever pours out lies will not go free.
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A dishonest witness will be punished. And those who pour out lies will not go free.
6 Many curry favor with a ruler, and everyone is the friend of one who gives gifts.
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Many try to win the favor of rulers. And everyone is the friend of a man who gives 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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A poor person is avoided by his whole family. His friends avoid him even more. The poor person runs after them to beg. But he can't find them.
8 The one who gets wisdom loves life; the one who cherishes understanding will soon prosper.
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Anyone who gets wisdom loves himself. Anyone who values understanding succeeds.
9 A false witness will not go unpunished, and whoever pours out lies will perish.
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A dishonest witness will be punished. And those who pour out lies will die.
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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It isn't proper for a foolish person to live in great comfort. And it is much worse when a slave rules over princes!
11 A person’s wisdom yields patience; it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense.
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A man's wisdom makes him patient. He will be honored if he forgives someone who sins against him.
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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A king's anger is like a lion's roar. But his favor is like dew on 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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If a child is foolish, he destroys his father. A nagging wife is like dripping that never stops.
14 Houses and wealth are inherited from parents, but a prudent wife is from the LORD.
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You will receive houses and wealth from your parents. But a wise wife is given by the Lord.
15 Laziness brings on deep sleep, and the shiftless go hungry.
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Anyone who doesn't want to work sleeps his life away. And a person who refuses to work goes hungry.
16 Whoever keeps commandments keeps their life, but whoever shows contempt for their ways will die.
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Those who obey what they are taught guard their lives. But those who don't care how they live will 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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Anyone who is kind to poor people lends to the Lord. God will reward him for what he has done.
18 Discipline your children, for in that there is hope; do not be a willing party to their death.
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Train your child. Then there is hope. Don't do anything to bring about his death.
19 A hot-tempered person must pay the penalty; rescue them, and you will have to do it again.
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Anyone who burns with anger must pay for it. If you save him, you will have to do it again.
20 Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise.
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Listen to advice and accept what you are taught. In the end you will be wise.
21 Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.
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A man may have many plans in his heart. But the LORD's purpose wins out in the end.
22 What a person desires is unfailing love ; better to be poor than a liar.
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Every man longs for love that never fails. It is better to be poor than to be a liar.
23 The fear of the LORD leads to life; then one rests content, untouched by trouble.
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Having respect for the LORD leads to life. Then you will be content and free from trouble.
24 A sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he will not even bring it back to his mouth!
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A person who doesn't want to work leaves his hand in the dish. He won't even bring it back up to his mouth!
25 Flog a mocker, and the simple will learn prudence; rebuke the discerning, and they will gain knowledge.
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If you whip a person who makes fun of others, childish people will learn to be wise. If you warn someone who already understands what is right, he will gain even more knowledge.
26 Whoever robs their father and drives out their mother is a child who brings shame and disgrace.
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A child who robs his father and drives out his mother brings shame and dishonor.
27 Stop listening to instruction, my son, and you will stray from the words of knowledge.
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My son, if you stop listening to what I teach you, you will wander away 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 dishonest witness makes fun of what is right. The mouths of those who do wrong gulp down evil.
29 Penalties are prepared for mockers, and beatings for the backs of fools.
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Those who make fun of others will be judged. Foolish people will be punished.
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.
Holy Bible, New International Reader's Version® Copyright © 1995, 1996, 1998 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.