| English Standard Version | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool. | 1Better a poor man who lives with integrity than someone who has deceitful lips and is a fool. |
| 2Desire without knowledge is not good, and whoever makes haste with his feet misses his way. | 2Even zeal is not good without knowledge, and the one who acts hastily sins. |
| 3When a man’s folly brings his way to ruin, his heart rages against the LORD. | 3A man's own foolishness leads him astray, yet his heart rages against the LORD. |
| 4Wealth brings many new friends, but a poor man is deserted by his friend. | 4Wealth attracts many friends, but a poor man is separated from his friend. |
| 5A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies will not escape. | 5A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who utters lies will not escape. |
| 6Many seek the favor of a generous man, and everyone is a friend to a man who gives gifts. | 6Many seek a ruler's favor, and everyone is a friend of one who gives gifts. |
| 7All a poor man’s brothers hate him; how much more do his friends go far from him! He pursues them with words, but does not have them. | 7All the brothers of a poor man hate him; how much more do his friends keep their distance from him! He may pursue them with words, but they are not there. |
| 8Whoever gets sense loves his own soul; he who keeps understanding will discover good. | 8The one who acquires good sense loves himself; one who safeguards understanding finds success. |
| 9A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies will perish. | 9A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who utters lies perishes. |
| 10It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury, much less for a slave to rule over princes. | 10Luxury is not appropriate for a fool-- how much less for a slave to rule over princes! |
| 11Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense. | 11A person's insight gives him patience, and his virtue is to overlook an offense. |
| 12A king’s wrath is like the growling of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass. | 12A king's rage is like the roaring of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass. |
| 13A foolish son is ruin to his father, and a wife’s quarreling is a continual dripping of rain. | 13A foolish son is his father's ruin, and a wife's nagging is an endless dripping. |
| 14House and wealth are inherited from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the LORD. | 14A house and wealth are inherited from fathers, but a sensible wife is from the LORD. |
| 15Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep, and an idle person will suffer hunger. | 15Laziness induces deep sleep, and a lazy person will go hungry. |
| 16Whoever keeps the commandment keeps his life; he who despises his ways will die. | 16The one who keeps commands preserves himself; one who disregards his ways will die. |
| 17Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will repay him for his deed. | 17Kindness to the poor is a loan to the LORD, and He will give a reward to the lender. |
| 18Discipline your son, for there is hope; do not set your heart on putting him to death. | 18Discipline your son while there is hope; don't be intent on killing him. |
| 19A man of great wrath will pay the penalty, for if you deliver him, you will only have to do it again. | 19A person with great anger bears the penalty; if you rescue him, you'll have to do it again. |
| 20Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future. | 20Listen to counsel and receive instruction so that you may be wise later in life. |
| 21Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand. | 21Many plans are in a man's heart, but the LORD's decree will prevail. |
| 22What is desired in a man is steadfast love, and a poor man is better than a liar. | 22What is desirable in a man is his fidelity; better to be a poor man than a liar. |
| 23The fear of the LORD leads to life, and whoever has it rests satisfied; he will not be visited by harm. | 23The fear of the LORD leads to life; one will sleep at night without danger. |
| 24The sluggard buries his hand in the dish and will not even bring it back to his mouth. | 24The slacker buries his hand in the bowl; he doesn't even bring it back to his mouth. |
| 25Strike a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence; reprove a man of understanding, and he will gain knowledge. | 25Strike a mocker, and the inexperienced learn a lesson; rebuke the discerning, and he gains knowledge. |
| 26He who does violence to his father and chases away his mother is a son who brings shame and reproach. | 26The one who assaults his father and evicts his mother is a disgraceful and shameful son. |
| 27Cease to hear instruction, my son, and you will stray from the words of knowledge. | 27If you stop listening to correction, my son, you will stray from the words of knowledge. |
| 28A worthless witness mocks at justice, and the mouth of the wicked devours iniquity. | 28A worthless witness mocks justice, and a wicked mouth swallows iniquity. |
| 29Condemnation is ready for scoffers, and beating for the backs of fools. | 29Judgments are prepared for mockers, and beatings for the backs of fools. |
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