New International Version NIV
Orthodox Jewish Bible OJB
1 A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.
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2 A shem tov is rather to be desired than osher rav, and chen (grace) rather than kesef and zahav.
2 Rich and poor have this in common: The LORD is the Maker of them all.
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The oisher (rich man) and the rahsh (pauper) have this in common: Hashem is the Oseh (Maker) of them all.
3 The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.
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A prudent man foreseeth the ra’ah, and hideth himself, but the naïve trudge on, and are punished.
4 Humility is the fear of the LORD; its wages are riches and honor and life.
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By anavah (humility) and the Yirat Hashem are osher, and kavod, and chayyim.
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 pachim (snares) are in the derech of the crooked; he that is shomer over his nefesh shall be far 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 up a na’ar in the derech (road) he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
7 The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender.
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The oisher ruleth over the rahshim (paupers), and the loveh (borrower, debtor) is eved (slave) to the ish malveh (lender).
8 Whoever sows injustice reaps calamity, and the rod they wield in fury will be broken.
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He that soweth iniquity shall reap aven (iniquity), and the shevet (rod) of his wrath shall disappear.
9 The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor.
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He that hath a tov ayin (generous eye) shall have a bracha; for he giveth of his lechem to the dal (poor).
10 Drive out the mocker, and out goes strife; quarrels and insults are ended.
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Cast out the scoffer, and contention shall leave; indeed, strife and kalon (shame) shall 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 that loveth tahor lev (a pure heart), for the chen (grace) on his sfatayim (lips) the Melech shall be his re’a (friend).
12 The eyes of the LORD keep watch over knowledge, but he frustrates the words of the unfaithful.
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The eynayim of Hashem preserve da’as, and He overthroweth the devarim of the boged (unfaithful, treacherous, traitor).
13 The sluggard says, “There’s a lion outside! I’ll be killed in the public square!”
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The atzel (sluggard, lazy one) saith, There is an ari (lion) outside; I shall be murdered in the streets.
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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The peh (mouth) of zarot (strange women) is a deep pit; he that is under the wrath of Hashem shall fall therein.
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 in the lev na’ar, but the shevet musar (rod of correction) shall drive it far 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 that oppresseth the dal (poor) in order to increase, and he that giveth to the oisher, shall surely come to machsor (poverty, want).
17 Pay attention and turn your ear to the sayings of the wise; apply your heart to what I teach,
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Bow down thine ozen, and hear the devarim of chachamim, and apply thine lev (mind, heart) unto my da’as.
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 a pleasant thing if thou be shomer over them within thee; they shall therewith abide ready upon thy sfatayim (lips).
19 So that your trust may be in the LORD, I teach you today, even you.
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That thy trust may be in Hashem, I have made thee know this yom, even thee!
20 Have I not written thirty sayings for you, sayings of counsel and knowledge,
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Have not I written to thee shloshim (thirty sayings) in mo’etzot (counsels) and da’as,
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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That I might make thee know the certain truth of the words of emes; that thou mightest bring back words of emes to them that send thee?
22 Do not exploit the poor because they are poor and do not crush the needy in court,
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Exploit not the dal (poor), because he is dal (poor); neither oppress the oni (afflicted) in the sha’ar,
23 for the LORD will take up their case and will exact life for life.
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For Hashem will plead their cause, and plunder the nefesh of those that plundered them.
24 Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person, do not associate with one easily angered,
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Make no friendship with a ba’al af (angry man), and with an ish chemot (man of wrath) thou shalt not go,
25 or you may learn their ways and get yourself ensnared.
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Lest thou learn his orkhot (ways), and take a mokesh (snare) for thy nefesh.
26 Do not be one who shakes hands in pledge or puts up security for debts;
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Be not thou one of them that shake hands in a pledge, or of them that are collateral for masha’ot (debts, loans).
27 if you lack the means to pay, your very bed will be snatched from under you.
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If thou hast nothing with which to pay, why should he take away thy mishkav (bed) from under thee?
28 Do not move an ancient boundary stone set up by your ancestors.
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Remove not the gevul olam (ancient landmark), which avoteicha have set.
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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Seest thou an ish mahir (diligent, one who excells) in his work? He shall stand before melachim; he shall not stand before obscure men.
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 Orthodox Jewish Bible fourth edition, OJB. Copyright 2002,2003,2008,2010, 2011 by Artists for Israel International. All rights reserved.