New International Version NIV
Lexham English Bible LEB
1 A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.
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A {reputation} [is] to be chosen {rather than} great riches; {favor is better than silver and gold}.
2 Rich and poor have this in common: The LORD is the Maker of them all.
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Rich and poor have [much] in common; Yahweh is the maker of all of them.
3 The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.
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The clever sees danger and hides, but the simple go on and suffer.
4 Humility is the fear of the LORD; its wages are riches and honor and life.
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The reward of humility [is] the fear of Yahweh-- wealth and honor and life.
5 In the paths of the wicked are snares and pitfalls, but those who would preserve their life stay far from them.
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Thorns [and] snares [are] in the way of the perverse; he who guards himself will keep away from them.
6 Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.
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Train the child {concerning his way}; even when he is old, he will not stray from it.
7 The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender.
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The rich will rule over the poor, and the borrower is a slave of {the lender}.
8 Whoever sows injustice reaps calamity, and the rod they wield in fury will be broken.
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He who sows injustice will reap calamity, and the rod of his anger will fail.
9 The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor.
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He [who] {is generous} will be blessed, for he gives to the poor from his [own] bread.
10 Drive out the mocker, and out goes strife; quarrels and insults are ended.
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Drive out a scoffer and strife will go out; quarrel and abuse will cease.
11 One who loves a pure heart and who speaks with grace will have the king for a friend.
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He who loves purity of heart [and has]{gracious speech}, his friend [is the] king.
12 The eyes of the LORD keep watch over knowledge, but he frustrates the words of the unfaithful.
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The eyes of Yahweh keep watch over knowledge, but he will overthrow the words of the faithless.
13 The sluggard says, “There’s a lion outside! I’ll be killed in the public square!”
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A lazy person says "A lion in the street! In the middle of the highway, I shall be killed!"
14 The mouth of an adulterous woman is a deep pit; a man who is under the LORD’s wrath falls into it.
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A deep pit is the mouth of an {adulteress}, [he with whom] Yahweh is angry will fall there.
15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far away.
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Folly is bound up in the heart of a boy; [the] rod of discipline will drive it from him.
16 One who oppresses the poor to increase his wealth and one who gives gifts to the rich—both come to poverty.
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He who oppresses the poor [in order] to enrich himself, [or] gives to the rich, {will come to poverty}.
17 Pay attention and turn your ear to the sayings of the wise; apply your heart to what I teach,
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Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise; you shall apply your heart to my teaching.
18 for it is pleasing when you keep them in your heart and have all of them ready on your lips.
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For [it is] pleasant if you guard them {within you}; together they will be ready upon your lips.
19 So that your trust may be in the LORD, I teach you today, even you.
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[In order] for your trust to be in Yahweh, I have made [them] known to you {today}--even you.
20 Have I not written thirty sayings for you, sayings of counsel and knowledge,
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Have I not written for you thirty [sayings] with admonitions and knowledge?
21 teaching you to be honest and to speak the truth, so that you bring back truthful reports to those you serve?
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[In order] to show you what is right--sayings of truth-- [in order] to return a true saying to him who sent you.
22 Do not exploit the poor because they are poor and do not crush the needy in court,
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Do not rob the poor because he is poor, and do not crush the afflicted at the gate;
23 for the LORD will take up their case and will exact life for life.
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For Yahweh will plead their case and despoil those who despoil them of life.
24 Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person, do not associate with one easily angered,
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Do not befriend an owner of {anger}, and with a man of wrath you shall not associate;
25 or you may learn their ways and get yourself ensnared.
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lest you learn his way and become entangled in a snare to yourself.
26 Do not be one who shakes hands in pledge or puts up security for debts;
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Do not be with those who {give a pledge} {by becoming} surety.
27 if you lack the means to pay, your very bed will be snatched from under you.
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If there is nothing for you to pay, why will he take your bed from under you?
28 Do not move an ancient boundary stone set up by your ancestors.
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Do not remove an ancient boundary marker which your ancestors made.
29 Do you see someone skilled in their work? They will serve before kings; they will not serve before officials of low rank.
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A man who is skillful in his work, you shall see: before kings, he will serve; he will not serve before the commoners.