Christian Standard Bible

English Standard Version

1A good name is to be chosen over great wealth; favor is better than silver and gold.

1A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold.

2Rich and poor have this in common: the LORD makes them all.

2The rich and the poor meet together; the LORD is the Maker of them all.

3A sensible person sees danger and takes cover, but the inexperienced keep going and are punished.

3The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it.

4Humility, the fear of the LORD, results in wealth, honor, and life.

4The reward for humility and fear of the LORD is riches and honor and life.

5There are thorns and snares on the way of the crooked; the one who guards himself stays far from them.

5Thorns and snares are in the way of the crooked; whoever guards his soul will keep far from them.

6Start a youth out on his way; even when he grows old he will not depart from it.

6Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.

7The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is a slave to the lender.

7The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender.

8The one who sows injustice will reap disaster, and the rod of his fury will be destroyed.

8Whoever sows injustice will reap calamity, and the rod of his fury will fail.

9A generous person will be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor.

9Whoever has a bountiful eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor.

10Drive out a mocker, and conflict goes too; then quarreling and dishonor will cease.

10Drive out a scoffer, and strife will go out, and quarreling and abuse will cease.

11The one who loves a pure heart and gracious lips--the king is his friend.

11He who loves purity of heart, and whose speech is gracious, will have the king as his friend.

12The LORD's eyes keep watch over knowledge, but he overthrows the words of the treacherous.

12The eyes of the LORD keep watch over knowledge, but he overthrows the words of the traitor.

13The slacker says, "There's a lion outside! I'll be killed in the public square!"

13The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside! I shall be killed in the streets!”

14The mouth of the forbidden woman is a deep pit; a man cursed by the LORD will fall into it.

14The mouth of forbidden women is a deep pit; he with whom the LORD is angry will fall into it.

15Foolishness is bound to the heart of a youth; a rod of discipline will separate it from him.

15Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him.

16Oppressing the poor to enrich oneself, and giving to the rich--both lead only to poverty.

16Whoever oppresses the poor to increase his own wealth, or gives to the rich, will only come to poverty.

17Listen closely, pay attention to the words of the wise, and apply your mind to my knowledge.

17Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart to my knowledge,

18For it is pleasing if you keep them within you and if they are constantly on your lips.

18for it will be pleasant if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips.

19I have instructed you today--even you--so that your confidence may be in the LORD.

19That your trust may be in the LORD, I have made them known to you today, even to you.

20Haven't I written for you thirty sayings about counsel and knowledge,

20Have I not written for you thirty sayings of counsel and knowledge,

21in order to teach you true and reliable words, so that you may give a dependable report to those who sent you?

21to make you know what is right and true, that you may give a true answer to those who sent you?

22Don't rob a poor person because he is poor, and don't crush the oppressed at the city gate,

22Do not rob the poor, because he is poor, or crush the afflicted at the gate,

23for the LORD will champion their cause and will plunder those who plunder them.

23for the LORD will plead their cause and rob of life those who rob them.

24Don't make friends with an angry person, and don't be a companion of a hot-tempered one,

24Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man,

25or you will learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare.

25lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare.

26Don't be one of those who enter agreements, who put up security for loans.

26Be not one of those who give pledges, who put up security for debts.

27If you have nothing with which to pay, even your bed will be taken from under you.

27If you have nothing with which to pay, why should your bed be taken from under you?

28Don't move an ancient boundary marker that your fathers set up.

28Do not move the ancient landmark that your fathers have set.

29Do you see a person skilled in his work? He will stand in the presence of kings. He will not stand in the presence of the unknown.

29Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men.

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.