| NET Bible | New Living Translation |
| 1Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity than one who is perverse in his speech and is a fool. | 1Better to be poor and honest than to be dishonest and a fool. |
| 2It is dangerous to have zeal without knowledge, and the one who acts hastily makes poor choices. | 2Enthusiasm without knowledge is no good; haste makes mistakes. |
| 3A person's folly subverts 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 person is separated from his friend. | 4Wealth makes many “friends”; poverty drives them all away. |
| 5A false witness will not go unpunished, and the one who spouts out lies will not escape punishment. | 5A false witness will not go unpunished, nor will a liar escape. |
| 6Many people entreat the favor of a generous person, and everyone is the friend of the person who gives gifts. | 6Many seek favors from a ruler; everyone is the friend of a person who gives gifts! |
| 7All the relatives of a poor person hate him; how much more do his friends avoid him--he pursues them with words, but they do not respond. | 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. |
| 8The one who acquires wisdom loves himself; the one who preserves understanding will prosper. | 8To acquire wisdom is to love yourself; people who cherish understanding will prosper. |
| 9A false witness will not go unpunished, and the one who spouts out lies will perish. | 9A false witness will not go unpunished, and a liar will be destroyed. |
| 10Luxury is not appropriate for a fool; how much less for a servant to rule over princes! | 10It isn’t right for a fool to live in luxury or for a slave to rule over princes! |
| 11A person's wisdom makes him slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense. | 11Sensible people control their temper; they earn respect by overlooking wrongs. |
| 12A king's wrath is like the roar 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 child is the ruin of his father, and a contentious wife is like a constant dripping. | 13A foolish child is a calamity to a father; a quarrelsome wife is as annoying as constant dripping. |
| 14A house and wealth are inherited from parents, 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 brings on a deep sleep, and the idle person will go hungry. | 15Lazy people sleep soundly, but idleness leaves them hungry. |
| 16The one who obeys commandments guards his life; the one who despises his ways will die. | 16Keep the commandments and keep your life; despising them leads to death. |
| 17The one who is gracious to the poor lends to the LORD, and the LORD 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 child, for there is hope, but do not set your heart on causing his death. | 18Discipline your children while there is hope. Otherwise you will ruin their lives. |
| 19A person with great anger bears the penalty, but if you deliver him from it once, you will 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 advice and receive discipline, that you may become wise by the end of your life. | 20Get all the advice and instruction you can, so you will be wise the rest of your life. |
| 21There are many plans in a person's mind, but it is the counsel of the LORD which will stand. | 21You can make many plans, but the LORD’s purpose will prevail. |
| 22What is desirable for a person is to show loyal love, and a poor person is better than a liar. | 22Loyalty makes a person attractive. It is better to be poor than dishonest. |
| 23Fearing the LORD leads to life, and one who does so will live satisfied; he will not be afflicted by calamity. | 23Fear of the LORD leads to life, bringing security and protection from harm. |
| 24The sluggard plunges his hand in the dish, and he 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. |
| 25Flog a scorner, and as a result the simpleton will learn prudence; correct a discerning person, and as a result he will understand knowledge. | 25If you punish a mocker, the simpleminded will learn a lesson; if you correct the wise, they will be all the wiser. |
| 26The one who robs his father and chases away his mother is a son who brings shame and disgrace. | 26Children who mistreat their father or chase away their mother are an embarrassment and a public disgrace. |
| 27If you stop listening to instruction, my child, you will stray from the words of knowledge. | 27If you stop listening to instruction, my child, you will turn your back on knowledge. |
| 28A crooked witness scorns justice, and the mouth of the wicked devours iniquity. | 28A corrupt witness makes a mockery of justice; the mouth of the wicked gulps down evil. |
| 29Judgments are prepared for scorners, and floggings for the backs of fools. | 29Punishment is made for mockers, and the backs of fools are made to be beaten. |
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