English Standard Version

New Living Translation

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

1Choose a good reputation over great riches; being held in high esteem is better than silver or gold.

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

2The rich and poor have this in common: The LORD made them both.

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

3A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.

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

4True humility and fear of the LORD lead to riches, honor, and long life.

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

5Corrupt people walk a thorny, treacherous road; whoever values life will avoid it.

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

6Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it.

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

7Just as the rich rule the poor, so the borrower is servant to the lender.

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

8Those who plant injustice will harvest disaster, and their reign of terror will come to an end.

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

9Blessed are those who are generous, because they feed the poor.

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

10Throw out the mocker, and fighting goes, too. Quarrels and insults will disappear.

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

11Whoever loves a pure heart and gracious speech will have the king as a friend.

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

12The LORD preserves those with knowledge, but he ruins the plans of the treacherous.

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

13The lazy person claims, “There’s a lion out there! If I go outside, I might be killed!”

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

14The mouth of an immoral woman is a dangerous trap; those who make the LORD angry will fall into it.

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

15A youngster’s heart is filled with foolishness, but physical 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.

16A person who gets ahead by oppressing the poor or by showering gifts on the rich will end in poverty. Sayings of the Wise

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

17Listen to the words of the wise; apply your heart to my instruction.

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

18For it is good to keep these sayings in your heart and always ready on your lips.

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

19I am teaching you today—yes, you— so you will trust in the LORD.

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

20I have written thirty sayings for you, filled with advice and knowledge.

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

21In this way, you may know the truth and take an accurate report to those who sent you.

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

22Don’t rob the poor just because you can, or exploit the needy in court.

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

23For the LORD is their defender. He will ruin anyone who ruins them.

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

24Don’t befriend angry people or associate with hot-tempered people,

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

25or you will learn to be like them and endanger your soul.

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

26Don’t agree to guarantee another person’s debt or put up security for someone else.

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

27If you can’t pay it, even your bed will be snatched from under you.

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

28Don’t cheat your neighbor by moving the ancient boundary markers set up by previous generations.

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

29Do you see any truly competent workers? They will serve kings rather than working for ordinary people.

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.

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.