New International Version NIV
Revised Standard Version RSV
1 A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or 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 Rich and poor have this in common: The LORD is the Maker of them all.
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The rich and the poor meet together; the LORD is the 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 sees danger and hides himself; but the simple go on, and suffer for it.
4 Humility is the fear of the LORD; its wages are riches and honor and life.
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The reward for humility and fear of the LORD is riches 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 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 child in the way 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 rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the 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 fury will fail.
9 The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor.
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He who has a bountiful eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor.
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, and quarreling 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 whose speech is gracious, will have the king as his friend.
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 the LORD keep watch over knowledge, but he overthrows 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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The sluggard says, "There is a lion outside! I shall be slain 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 mouth of a loose woman is a deep pit; he with whom the LORD is angry will fall into it.
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 child, but the rod of discipline drives 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 who oppresses the poor to increase his own wealth, or gives to the rich, will only come to 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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Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply your mind to my knowledge;
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 will be pleasant if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips.
19 So that your trust may be in the LORD, I teach you today, even 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 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 of admonition 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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to show you what is right and true, that you may give a true answer to those 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, or 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 the LORD will plead their cause and despoil of life those who despoil 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 man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man,
25 or you may learn their ways and get yourself ensnared.
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lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare.
26 Do not be one who shakes hands in pledge or puts up security for debts;
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Be not one of those who give pledges, who become surety for debts.
27 if you lack the means to pay, your very bed will be snatched from under you.
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If you have nothing with which to pay, why should your bed be taken from under you?
28 Do not move an ancient boundary stone set up by your ancestors.
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Remove not the ancient landmark which your fathers 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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Do you see a man skilful in his work? he will stand before kings; he will 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.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the 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.