Common English Bible CEB
New Revised Standard NRS
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 have this in common: 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 clever see danger and hide; 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 perverse; the cautious 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 children in the right way, and when old, they will not stray.
7 The wealthy rule over the poor; a borrower is a slave to a lender.
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The rich rule 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 anger will fail.
9 Happy are generous people, because they give some of their food to the poor.
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Those who are generous are blessed, for they share their 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 goes out; 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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Those who love a pure heart and are gracious in speech will have the king as a 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 faithless.
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 lazy person 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 a loose woman is a deep pit; he with whom the Lord is angry falls 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 boy, but the rod of discipline drives it far away.
16 Oppressing the poor to get rich and giving to the wealthy lead only to poverty.
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Oppressing the poor in order to enrich oneself, and giving to the rich, will lead only to loss.
17 Turn your ear and hear the words of the wise; focus your mind on my knowledge.
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The words of the wise: Incline your ear and hear my words, and apply your mind to my teaching;
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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So that your trust may be in the Lord, I have made them known to you today—yes, 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 admonition 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 show you what is right and true, so 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 they are 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 pleads their cause and despoils of life those who despoil them.
24 Don't befriend people controlled by anger; don't associate with hot-tempered people;
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Make no friends with those given to anger, and do not associate with hotheads,
25 otherwise, you will learn their ways and become trapped.
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or you may learn their ways and entangle yourself in a snare.
26 Don't shake hands to guarantee a loan.
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Do not be one of those who give pledges, who become surety 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 remove the ancient landmark that your ancestors set up.
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 those who are skillful in their work? They will serve kings; they will not serve common people.
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.