New American Standard Bible 1995

New Living Translation

1Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity Than he who is perverse in speech and is a fool.

1Better to be poor and honest than to be dishonest and a fool.

2Also it is not good for a person to be without knowledge, And he who hurries his footsteps errs.

2Enthusiasm without knowledge is no good; haste makes mistakes.

3The foolishness of man ruins his way, And his heart rages against the LORD.

3People ruin their lives by their own foolishness and then are angry at the LORD.

4Wealth adds many friends, But a poor man is separated from his friend.

4Wealth makes many “friends”; poverty drives them all away.

5A false witness will not go unpunished, And he who tells lies will not escape.

5A false witness will not go unpunished, nor will a liar escape.

6Many will seek the favor of a generous man, And every man is a friend to him who gives gifts.

6Many seek favors from a ruler; everyone is the friend of a person who gives gifts!

7All the brothers of a poor man hate him; How much more do his friends abandon him! He pursues them with words, but they are gone.

7The relatives of the poor despise them; how much more will their friends avoid them! Though the poor plead with them, their friends are gone.

8He who gets wisdom loves his own soul; He who keeps understanding will find good.

8To acquire wisdom is to love yourself; people who cherish understanding will prosper.

9A false witness will not go unpunished, And he who tells lies will perish.

9A false witness will not go unpunished, and a liar will be destroyed.

10Luxury is not fitting for a fool; Much less for a slave to rule over princes.

10It isn’t right for a fool to live in luxury or for a slave to rule over princes!

11A man's discretion makes him slow to anger, And it is his glory to overlook a transgression.

11Sensible people control their temper; they earn respect by overlooking wrongs.

12The king's wrath is like the roaring of a lion, But his favor is like dew on the grass.

12The king’s anger is like a lion’s roar, but his favor is like dew on the grass.

13A foolish son is destruction to his father, And the contentions of a wife are a constant dripping.

13A foolish child is a calamity to a father; a quarrelsome wife is as annoying as constant dripping.

14House and wealth are an inheritance from fathers, But a prudent wife is from the LORD.

14Fathers can give their sons an inheritance of houses and wealth, but only the LORD can give an understanding wife.

15Laziness casts into a deep sleep, And an idle man will suffer hunger.

15Lazy people sleep soundly, but idleness leaves them hungry.

16He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, But he who is careless of conduct will die.

16Keep the commandments and keep your life; despising them leads to death.

17One who is gracious to a poor man lends to the LORD, And He will repay him for his good deed.

17If you help the poor, you are lending to the LORD— and he will repay you!

18Discipline your son while there is hope, And do not desire his death.

18Discipline your children while there is hope. Otherwise you will ruin their lives.

19A man of great anger will bear the penalty, For if you rescue him, you will only have to do it again.

19Hot-tempered people must pay the penalty. If you rescue them once, you will have to do it again.

20Listen to counsel and accept discipline, That you may be wise the rest of your days.

20Get all the advice and instruction you can, so you will be wise the rest of your life.

21Many plans are in a man's heart, But the counsel of the LORD will stand.

21You can make many plans, but the LORD’s purpose will prevail.

22What is desirable in a man is his kindness, And it is better to be a poor man than a liar.

22Loyalty makes a person attractive. It is better to be poor than dishonest.

23The fear of the LORD leads to life, So that one may sleep satisfied, untouched by evil.

23Fear of the LORD leads to life, bringing security and protection from harm.

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

24Lazy people take food in their hand but don’t even lift it to their mouth.

25Strike a scoffer and the naive may become shrewd, But reprove one who has understanding and he will gain knowledge.

25If you punish a mocker, the simpleminded will learn a lesson; if you correct the wise, they will be all the wiser.

26He who assaults his father and drives his mother away Is a shameful and disgraceful son.

26Children who mistreat their father or chase away their mother are an embarrassment and a public disgrace.

27Cease listening, my son, to discipline, And you will stray from the words of knowledge.

27If you stop listening to instruction, my child, you will turn your back on knowledge.

28A rascally witness makes a mockery of justice, And the mouth of the wicked spreads iniquity.

28A corrupt witness makes a mockery of justice; the mouth of the wicked gulps down evil.

29Judgments are prepared for scoffers, And blows for the back of fools.

29Punishment is made for mockers, and the backs of fools are made to be beaten.

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org

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.