Revised Standard Version RSV
GOD'S WORD Translation GW
1 The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion.
1
A wicked person flees when no one is chasing him, but righteous people are as bold as lions.
2 When a land transgresses it has many rulers; but with men of understanding and knowledge its stability will long continue.
2
When a country is in revolt, it has many rulers, but only with a person who has understanding and knowledge will it last a long time.
3 A poor man who oppresses the poor is a beating rain that leaves no food.
3
A poor person who oppresses poorer people is like a driving rain that leaves no food.
4 Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, but those who keep the law strive against them.
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Those who abandon [God's] teachings praise wicked people, but those who follow [God's] teachings oppose wicked people.
5 Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the LORD understand it completely.
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Evil people do not understand justice, but those who seek the LORD understand everything.
6 Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity than a rich man who is perverse in his ways.
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Better to be a poor person who has integrity than to be rich and double-dealing.
7 He who keeps the law is a wise son, but a companion of gluttons shames his father.
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Whoever follows [God's] teachings is a wise son. Whoever associates with gluttons disgraces his father.
8 He who augments his wealth by interest and increase gathers it for him who is kind to the poor.
8
Whoever becomes wealthy through [unfair] loans and interest collects them for the one who is kind to the poor.
9 If one turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination.
9
Surely the prayer of someone who refuses to listen to [God's] teachings is disgusting.
10 He who misleads the upright into an evil way will fall into his own pit; but the blameless will have a goodly inheritance.
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Whoever leads decent people into evil will fall into his own pit, but innocent people will inherit good things.
11 A rich man is wise in his own eyes, but a poor man who has understanding will find him out.
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A rich person is wise in his own eyes, but a poor person with understanding sees right through him.
12 When the righteous triumph, there is great glory; but when the wicked rise, men hide themselves.
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When righteous people triumph, there is great glory, but when wicked people rise, people hide themselves.
13 He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.
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Whoever covers over his sins does not prosper. Whoever confesses and abandons them receives compassion.
14 Blessed is the man who fears the LORD always; but he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity.
14
Blessed is the one who is always fearful [of sin], but whoever is hard-hearted falls into disaster.
15 Like a roaring lion or a charging bear is a wicked ruler over a poor people.
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[Like] a roaring lion and a charging bear, [so] a wicked ruler is a threat to poor people.
16 A ruler who lacks understanding is a cruel oppressor; but he who hates unjust gain will prolong his days.
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A leader without understanding taxes [his people] heavily, but those who hate unjust gain will live longer.
17 If a man is burdened with the blood of another, let him be a fugitive until death; let no one help him.
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A person burdened with the guilt of murder will be a fugitive down to his grave. No one will help him.
18 He who walks in integrity will be delivered, but he who is perverse in his ways will fall into a pit.
18
Whoever lives honestly will be safe. Whoever lives dishonestly will fall all at once.
19 He who tills his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty.
19
Whoever works his land will have plenty to eat. Whoever chases unrealistic dreams will have plenty of nothing.
20 A faithful man will abound with blessings, but he who hastens to be rich will not go unpunished.
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A trustworthy person has many blessings, but anyone in a hurry to get rich will not escape punishment.
21 To show partiality is not good; but for a piece of bread a man will do wrong.
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Showing partiality is not good, because some people will turn on you even for a piece of bread.
22 A miserly man hastens after wealth, and does not know that want will come upon him.
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A stingy person is in a hurry to get rich, not realizing that poverty is about to overtake him.
23 He who rebukes a man will afterward find more favor than he who flatters with his tongue.
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Whoever criticizes people will be more highly regarded in the future than the one who flatters with his tongue.
24 He who robs his father or his mother and says, "That is no transgression," is the companion of a man who destroys.
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The one who robs his father or his mother and says, "It isn't wrong!" is a companion to a vandal.
25 A greedy man stirs up strife, but he who trusts in the LORD will be enriched.
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A greedy person stirs up a fight, but whoever trusts the LORD prospers.
26 He who trusts in his own mind is a fool; but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.
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Whoever trusts his own heart is a fool. Whoever walks in wisdom will survive.
27 He who gives to the poor will not want, but he who hides his eyes will get many a curse.
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Whoever gives to the poor lacks nothing. Whoever ignores the poor receives many curses.
28 When the wicked rise, men hide themselves, but when they perish, the righteous increase.
28
When wicked people rise, people hide. When they die, righteous people increase.
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.
GOD'S WORD® is a copyrighted work of God's Word to the Nations. Copyright © 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. All rights reserved. Used by permission.