| English Standard Version | New International Version |
| 1A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold. | 1A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold. |
| 2The rich and the poor meet together; the LORD is the Maker of them all. | 2Rich and poor have this in common: The LORD is the Maker of them all. |
| 3The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it. | 3The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty. |
| 4The reward for humility and fear of the LORD is riches and honor and life. | 4Humility is the fear of the LORD; its wages are riches and honor and life. |
| 5Thorns and snares are in the way of the crooked; whoever guards his soul will keep far from them. | 5In the paths of the wicked are snares and pitfalls, but those who would preserve their life stay far from them. |
| 6Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. | 6Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it. |
| 7The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender. | 7The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender. |
| 8Whoever sows injustice will reap calamity, and the rod of his fury will fail. | 8Whoever sows injustice reaps calamity, and the rod they wield in fury will be broken. |
| 9Whoever has a bountiful eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor. | 9The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor. |
| 10Drive out a scoffer, and strife will go out, and quarreling and abuse will cease. | 10Drive out the mocker, and out goes strife; quarrels and insults are ended. |
| 11He who loves purity of heart, and whose speech is gracious, will have the king as his friend. | 11One who loves a pure heart and who speaks with grace will have the king for a friend. |
| 12The eyes of the LORD keep watch over knowledge, but he overthrows the words of the traitor. | 12The eyes of the LORD keep watch over knowledge, but he frustrates the words of the unfaithful. |
| 13The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside! I shall be killed in the streets!” | 13The sluggard says, "There's a lion outside! I'll be killed in the public square!" |
| 14The mouth of forbidden women is a deep pit; he with whom the LORD is angry will fall into it. | 14The mouth of an adulterous woman is a deep pit; a man who is under the LORD's wrath falls into it. |
| 15Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him. | 15Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far away. |
| 16Whoever oppresses the poor to increase his own wealth, or gives to the rich, will only come to poverty. | 16One who oppresses the poor to increase his wealth and one who gives gifts to the rich--both come to poverty. |
| 17Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart to my knowledge, | 17Pay attention and turn your ear to the sayings of the wise; apply your heart to what I teach, |
| 18for it will be pleasant if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips. | 18for it is pleasing when you keep them in your heart and have all of them ready on your lips. |
| 19That your trust may be in the LORD, I have made them known to you today, even to you. | 19So that your trust may be in the LORD, I teach you today, even you. |
| 20Have I not written for you thirty sayings of counsel and knowledge, | 20Have I not written thirty sayings for you, sayings of counsel and knowledge, |
| 21to make you know what is right and true, that you may give a true answer to those who sent you? | 21teaching you to be honest and to speak the truth, so that you bring back truthful reports to those you serve? |
| 22Do not rob the poor, because he is poor, or crush the afflicted at the gate, | 22Do not exploit the poor because they are poor and do not crush the needy in court, |
| 23for the LORD will plead their cause and rob of life those who rob them. | 23for the LORD will take up their case and will exact life for life. |
| 24Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man, | 24Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person, do not associate with one easily angered, |
| 25lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare. | 25or you may learn their ways and get yourself ensnared. |
| 26Be not one of those who give pledges, who put up security for debts. | 26Do not be one who shakes hands in pledge or puts up security for debts; |
| 27If you have nothing with which to pay, why should your bed be taken from under you? | 27if you lack the means to pay, your very bed will be snatched from under you. |
| 28Do not move the ancient landmark that your fathers have set. | 28Do not move an ancient boundary stone set up by your ancestors. |
| 29Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men. | 29Do you see someone skilled in their work? They will serve before kings; they will not serve before officials of low rank. |
| 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. | New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. |
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