New Living Translation NLT
Young's Literal Translation YLT
1 Choose a good reputation over great riches; being held in high esteem is better than silver or gold.
1
A name is chosen rather than much wealth, Than silver and than gold -- good grace.
2 The rich and poor have this in common: The LORD made them both.
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Rich and poor have met together, The Maker of them all [is] Jehovah.
3 A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.
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The prudent hath seen the evil, and is hidden, And the simple have passed on, and are punished.
4 True humility and fear of the LORD lead to riches, honor, and long life.
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The end of humility [is] the fear of Jehovah, Riches, and honour, and life.
5 Corrupt people walk a thorny, treacherous road; whoever values life will avoid it.
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Thorns -- snares [are] in the way of the perverse, Whoso is keeping his soul is far from them.
6 Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it.
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Give instruction to a youth about his way, Even when he is old he turneth not from it.
7 Just as the rich rule the poor, so the borrower is servant to the lender.
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The rich over the poor ruleth, And a servant [is] the borrower to the lender.
8 Those who plant injustice will harvest disaster, and their reign of terror will come to an end.
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Whoso is sowing perverseness reapeth sorrow, And the rod of his anger weareth out.
9 Blessed are those who are generous, because they feed the poor.
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The good of eye -- he is blessed, For he hath given of his bread to the poor.
10 Throw out the mocker, and fighting goes, too. Quarrels and insults will disappear.
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Cast out a scorner -- and contention goeth out, And strife and shame cease.
11 Whoever loves a pure heart and gracious speech will have the king as a friend.
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Whoso is loving cleanness of heart, Grace [are] his lips, a king [is] his friend.
12 The LORD preserves those with knowledge, but he ruins the plans of the treacherous.
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The eyes of Jehovah have kept knowledge, And He overthroweth the words of the treacherous.
13 The lazy person claims, “There’s a lion out there! If I go outside, I might be killed!”
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The slothful hath said, `A lion [is] without, In the midst of the broad places I am slain.'
14 The mouth of an immoral woman is a dangerous trap; those who make the LORD angry will fall into it.
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A deep pit [is] the mouth of strange women, The abhorred of Jehovah falleth there.
15 A youngster’s heart is filled with foolishness, but physical discipline will drive it far away.
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Folly is bound up in the heart of a youth, The rod of chastisement putteth it far from him.
16 A person who gets ahead by oppressing the poor or by showering gifts on the rich will end in poverty.
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He is oppressing the poor to multiply to him, He is giving to the rich -- only to want.
17 Listen to the words of the wise; apply your heart to my instruction.
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Incline thine ear, and hear words of the wise, And thy heart set to my knowledge,
18 For it is good to keep these sayings in your heart and always ready on your lips.
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For they are pleasant when thou dost keep them in thy heart, They are prepared together for thy lips.
19 I am teaching you today—yes, you— so you will trust in the LORD .
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That thy trust may be in Jehovah, I caused thee to know to-day, even thou.
20 I have written thirty sayings for you, filled with advice and knowledge.
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Have I not written to thee three times With counsels and knowledge?
21 In this way, you may know the truth and take an accurate report to those who sent you.
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To cause thee to know the certainty of sayings of truth, To return sayings of truth to those sending thee.
22 Don’t rob the poor just because you can, or exploit the needy in court.
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Rob not the poor because he [is] poor, And bruise not the afflicted in the gate.
23 For the LORD is their defender. He will ruin anyone who ruins them.
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For Jehovah pleadeth their cause, And hath spoiled the soul of their spoilers.
24 Don’t befriend angry people or associate with hot-tempered people,
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Shew not thyself friendly with an angry man, And with a man of fury go not in,
25 or you will learn to be like them and endanger your soul.
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Lest thou learn his paths, And have received a snare to thy soul.
26 Don’t agree to guarantee another person’s debt or put up security for someone else.
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Be not thou among those striking hands, Among sureties [for] burdens.
27 If you can’t pay it, even your bed will be snatched from under you.
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If thou hast nothing to pay, Why doth he take thy bed from under thee?
28 Don’t cheat your neighbor by moving the ancient boundary markers set up by previous generations.
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Remove not a border of olden times, That thy fathers have made.
29 Do you see any truly competent workers? They will serve kings rather than working for ordinary people.
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Hast thou seen a man speedy in his business? Before kings he doth station himself, He stations not himself before obscure men!