Common English Bible CEB
English Standard Version ESV
1 A good reputation is better than much wealth; high esteem is better than silver and gold.
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A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold.
2 The rich and the poor have this in common: the LORD made them both.
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The rich and the poor meet together; the Lord is the maker of them all.
3 Prudent people see trouble and hide, while the simpleminded go right to it and get punished.
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The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it.
4 The reward of humility and the fear of the LORD is wealth, honor, and life.
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The reward for humility and fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life.
5 Thorns and nets are in the path of the crooked; those who guard their lives keep their distance.
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Thorns and snares are in the way of the crooked; whoever guards his soul will keep far from them.
6 Train children in the way they should go; when they grow old, they won't depart from it.
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Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.
7 The wealthy rule over the poor; a borrower is a slave to a lender.
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The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender.
8 Those who sow injustice will harvest evil; the rod of their fury will come to an end.
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Whoever sows injustice will reap calamity, and the rod of his fury will fail.
9 Happy are generous people, because they give some of their food to the poor.
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Whoever has a bountiful eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor.
10 Remove the mocker and conflict disappears; judgment and shame also stop.
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Drive out a scoffer, and strife will go out, and quarreling and abuse will cease.
11 Those who love a pure heart— their speech is gracious, and the king is their friend.
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He who loves purity of heart, and whose speech is gracious, will have the king as his friend.
12 The LORD's eyes protect knowledge, but he frustrates the words of the treacherous.
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The eyes of the Lord keep watch over knowledge, but he overthrows the words of the traitor.
13 A lazy person says, "There's a lion in the street! I'll be killed in the town square!"
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The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside! I shall be killed in the streets! ”
14 The mouth of a mysterious woman is a deep pit; those under the LORD's wrath will fall in it.
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The mouth of forbidden women is a deep pit; he with whom the Lord is angry will fall into it.
15 Folly is bound up in a child's heart; the rod of discipline removes it.
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Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him.
16 Oppressing the poor to get rich and giving to the wealthy lead only to poverty.
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Whoever oppresses the poor to increase his own wealth, or gives to the rich, will only come to poverty.
17 Turn your ear and hear the words of the wise; focus your mind on my knowledge.
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Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart to my knowledge,
18 It will be pleasant if you keep the words in you, if you have them ready on your lips.
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for it will be pleasant if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips.
19 So that your trust will be in the LORD, I'm teaching you today—yes, you.
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That your trust may be in the Lord, I have made them known to you today, even to you.
20 Haven't I written for you thirty sayings full of advice and knowledge?
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Have I not written for you thirty sayings of counsel and knowledge,
21 Their purpose is to teach you true, reliable words, so you can report back reliably to those who sent you.
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to make you know what is right and true, that you may give a true answer to those who sent you?
22 Don't steal from the poor, because they are poor. Don't oppress the needy in the gate.
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Do not rob the poor, because he is poor, or crush the afflicted at the gate,
23 The LORD will take up their case and press the life out of those who oppress them.
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for the Lord will plead their cause and rob of life those who rob them.
24 Don't befriend people controlled by anger; don't associate with hot-tempered people;
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Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man,
25 otherwise, you will learn their ways and become trapped.
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lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare.
26 Don't shake hands to guarantee a loan.
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Be not one of those who give pledges, who put up security for debts.
27 If you can't repay, why should they be able to take your bed from you?
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If you have nothing with which to pay, why should your bed be taken from under you?
28 Don't remove an ancient boundary marker that your ancestors established.
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Do not move the ancient landmark that your fathers have set.
29 Do you see people who work skillfully? They will work for kings but not work for lowly people.
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Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men.