New International Version NIV
Douay-Rheims Catholic Bible RHE
1 Better the poor whose walk is blameless than a fool whose lips are perverse.
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Better is the poor man, that walketh in his simplicity, than a rich man that is perverse in his lips and unwise.
2 Desire without knowledge is not good— how much more will hasty feet miss the way!
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Where there is no knowledge of the soul, there is no good: and he that is hasty with his feet shall stumble.
3 A person’s own folly leads to their ruin, yet their heart rages against the LORD.
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The folly of a man supplanteth his steps: and he fretteth in his mind against God.
4 Wealth attracts many friends, but even the closest friend of the poor person deserts them.
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Riches make many friends: but from the poor man, even they whom he had, depart.
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 speaketh 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 honour the person of him that is mighty, and are friends of 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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The brethren of the poor man hate him: moreover also his friends have departed far from him. He that followeth after words only, shall have nothing.
8 The one who gets wisdom loves life; the one who cherishes understanding will soon prosper.
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But he that possesseth a mind, loveth his own soul, and he that keepeth prudence, shall find good things.
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 speaketh 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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Delicacies are not seemly for a fool: nor 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 learning of a man is known by patience: and his glory is to pass over wrongs.
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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As the roaring of a lion, so also is the anger of a king: and his cheerfulness as the 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 grief of his father: and a wrangling wife is like a roof continually dropping through.
14 Houses and wealth are inherited from parents, but a prudent wife is from the LORD.
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House and riches are given by parents: but a prudent wife is properly from the Lord.
15 Laziness brings on deep sleep, and the shiftless go hungry.
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Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep, and an 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 own soul: but he that neglecteth his own way, 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 mercy on the poor, lendeth to the Lord: and he will repay him.
18 Discipline your children, for in that there is hope; do not be a willing party to their death.
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Chastise thy son, despair not: but to the killing of him set not thy soul.
19 A hot-tempered person must pay the penalty; rescue them, and you will have to do it again.
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He that is impatient, shall suffer damage: and when he shall take away, he shall add another thing.
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 mayst 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 thoughts in the heart of a man: but the will of the Lord shall stand firm.
22 What a person desires is unfailing love ; better to be poor than a liar.
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A needy man is merciful: and better is the poor than the lying man.
23 The fear of the LORD leads to life; then one rests content, untouched by trouble.
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The fear of the Lord is unto life: and he shall abide in the fulness without being 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 slothful hideth his hand under his armpit, and will not so much as bring it 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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The wicked man being scourged, the fool shall be wiser: but if thou rebuke a wise man, he will understand discipline.
26 Whoever robs their father and drives out their mother is a child who brings shame and disgrace.
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He that afflicteth his father, and chaseth away his mother, is infamous and unhappy.
27 Stop listening to instruction, my son, and you will stray from the words of knowledge.
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Cease not, O my son, to hear instruction, and be not ignorant of the words of knowledge.
28 A corrupt witness mocks at justice, and the mouth of the wicked gulps down evil.
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An unjust witness scorneth judgment: and the mouth of the wicked devoureth iniquity.
29 Penalties are prepared for mockers, and beatings for the backs of fools.
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Judgments are prepared for scorners: and striking hammers for the bodies 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 Douay-Rheims Bible is in the public domain.