New King James Version NKJV
Revised Standard Version RSV
1 A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, Loving favor rather 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 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 A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself, But the simple pass on and are punished.
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A prudent man sees danger and hides himself; but the simple go on, and suffer for it.
4 By humility and the fear of the Lord 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 Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse; He who guards his soul will be 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 Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart 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 rules over the poor, And the borrower is servant to the lender.
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The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender.
8 He who sows iniquity will reap sorrow, And the rod of his anger will fail.
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He who sows injustice will reap calamity, and the rod of his fury will fail.
9 He who has a generous eye will be blessed, For he gives of his bread to the poor.
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He who has a bountiful eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor.
10 Cast out the scoffer, and contention will leave; Yes, strife and reproach will cease.
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Drive out a scoffer, and strife will go out, and quarreling and abuse will cease.
11 He who loves purity of heart And has grace on his lips, The king will be his 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 preserve knowledge, But He overthrows the words of the faithless.
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The eyes of the LORD keep watch over knowledge, but he overthrows the words of the faithless.
13 The lazy man says, "There is a lion outside! I shall be slain in the streets!"
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The sluggard says, "There is a lion outside! I shall be slain in the streets!"
14 The mouth of an immoral woman is a deep pit; He who is abhorred by the Lord will fall there.
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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 Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; The rod of correction will drive it far from him.
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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 He who oppresses the poor to increase his riches, And he who gives to the rich, will surely 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 Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise, And apply your heart to my knowledge;
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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 a pleasant thing if you keep them within you; Let them all be fixed upon 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 have instructed 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 to you excellent things Of counsels and knowledge,
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Have I not written for you thirty sayings of admonition and knowledge,
21 That I may make you know the certainty of the words of truth, That you may answer words of truth To those who send to you?
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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 rob the poor because he is poor, Nor oppress the afflicted at the gate;
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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 plead their cause, And plunder the soul of those who plunder them.
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for the LORD will plead their cause and despoil of life those who despoil them.
24 Make no friendship with an angry man, And with a furious man do not go,
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Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man,
25 Lest you learn his ways And set a snare for your soul.
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lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare.
26 Do not be one of those who shakes hands in a pledge, One of those who is surety for debts;
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Be not one of those who give pledges, who become surety for debts.
27 If you have nothing with which to pay, Why should he take away your bed 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 remove the ancient landmark Which your fathers have set.
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Remove not the ancient landmark which your fathers have set.
29 Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before unknown men.
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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 taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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.