| Holman 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. |
| 2The rich and the poor have this in common: the LORD made them both. | 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. |
| 4The result of humility is fear of the LORD, along with 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 path 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. |
| 6Teach a youth about the way he should go; even when he is 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 tangled up in the heart of a youth; the rod of discipline will drive it away 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 man because he is poor, and don't crush the oppressed at the gate, | 22Do not rob the poor, because he is poor, or crush the afflicted at the gate, |
| 23for the LORD will take up their case 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 man, and don't be a companion of a hot-tempered man, | 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 no money 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 man skilled in his work? He will stand in the presence of kings. He will not stand in the presence of unknown men. | 29Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men. |
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