English Standard Version

International Standard Version

1Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool.

1A poor man who walks blamelessly is better than a fool who speaks perversely.

2Desire without knowledge is not good, and whoever makes haste with his feet misses his way.

2Furthermore, it isn't good to be ignorant, and whoever rushes into things misses the mark.

3When a man’s folly brings his way to ruin, his heart rages against the LORD.

3A man's foolishness ruins his life, yet his heart rages against the LORD.

4Wealth brings many new friends, but a poor man is deserted by his friend.

4Wealth brings many friends, but a poor man is deserted by his friend.

5A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies will not escape.

5A witness to lies will not go unpunished; the teller of falsehoods will not escape.

6Many seek the favor of a generous man, and everyone is a friend to a man who gives gifts.

6Many curry favor of an official; everyone is a friend of the gift giver.

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 relatives of a poor person shun him— how much more do his friends avoid him! Though he runs after them pleading, they aren't around.

8Whoever gets sense loves his own soul; he who keeps understanding will discover good.

8Whoever obtains wisdom loves himself, and whoever treasures understanding will prosper.

9A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies will perish.

9A witness to lies will not go unpunished; the teller of falsehoods will perish.

10It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury, much less for a slave to rule over princes.

10It's not fitting for a fool to live in luxury; neither is it for a servant to rule over princes.

11Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.

11A person's discretion makes him slow to anger, and it is to his credit that he ignores an offence.

12A king’s wrath is like the growling of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass.

12The king's anger is like the roaring of a lion, but his goodwill 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 father's ruin is a foolish son, and a wife's quarreling is like dripping water that never stops.

14House and wealth are inherited from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the LORD.

14A house and self-sufficiency are a father's inheritance, but from the LORD comes an insightful wife.

15Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep, and an idle person will suffer hunger.

15Laziness puts one to sleep, and an idle person will go hungry.

16Whoever keeps the commandment keeps his life; he who despises his ways will die.

16Whoever obeys a commandment keeps himself safe, but someone who is contemptuous in conduct will die.

17Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will repay him for his deed.

17Whoever is kind to the poor is lending to the LORD— the benefit of his gift will return to him in abundance.

18Discipline your son, for there is hope; do not set your heart on putting him to death.

18Discipline your son while there is still hope— but don't set your heart on his destruction.

19A man of great wrath will pay the penalty, for if you deliver him, you will only have to do it again.

19The person who has great anger must pay the consequences, because if you rescue him, you will have to do it again.

20Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future.

20Listen to advice and accept discipline, and you'll be wise for the rest of your life.

21Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand.

21Many plans occupy the mind of a man, but the LORD's purposes will prevail.

22What is desired in a man is steadfast love, and a poor man is better than a liar.

22Human beings long for grace, and it's better to be poor than a man of deceit.

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; whoever is satisfied with it will rest, untouched by evil.

24The sluggard buries his hand in the dish and will not even bring it back to his mouth.

24The lazy person buries his hand in his dish and doesn't bother to 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.

25If you scourge a scoffer, the simple person may learn to be discreet; rebuke a discerning man and he will gain understanding.

26He who does violence to his father and chases away his mother is a son who brings shame and reproach.

26Whoever mistreats his father and alienates his mother is a son who brings both shame and disrespect.

27Cease to hear instruction, my son, and you will stray from the words of knowledge.

27My son, if you stop listening to instruction, you will stray from the principles of knowledge.

28A worthless witness mocks at justice, and the mouth of the wicked devours iniquity.

28A corrupt witness mocks justice, and the wicked person feeds on iniquity.

29Condemnation is ready for scoffers, and beating for the backs of fools.

29Condemnation is appropriate for mockers, just as beatings are for the backs of fools.

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.

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