| New International Version | Berean Study Bible |
| 1A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold. | 1A good name is more desirable than great riches; favor is better than silver and gold. |
| 2Rich and poor have this in common: The LORD is the Maker of them all. | 2The rich and the poor have this in common: The LORD is Maker of them all. |
| 3The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty. | 3The prudent see danger and take cover, but the simple keep going and suffer the consequences. |
| 4Humility is the fear of the LORD; its wages are riches and honor and life. | 4The rewards of humility and the fear of the LORD are wealth and honor and life. |
| 5In the paths of the wicked are snares and pitfalls, but those who would preserve their life stay far from them. | 5Thorns and snares lie on the path of the perverse; he who guards his soul stays far from them. |
| 6Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it. | 6Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it. |
| 7The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender. | 7The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender. |
| 8Whoever sows injustice reaps calamity, and the rod they wield in fury will be broken. | 8He who sows injustice will reap disaster, and the rod of his fury will be destroyed. |
| 9The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor. | 9A generous man will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor. |
| 10Drive out the mocker, and out goes strife; quarrels and insults are ended. | 10Drive out the mocker, and conflict will depart; even quarreling and insults will cease. |
| 11One who loves a pure heart and who speaks with grace will have the king for a friend. | 11He who loves a pure heart and gracious lips will have the king for a friend. |
| 12The eyes of the LORD keep watch over knowledge, but he frustrates the words of the unfaithful. | 12The LORD’s eyes keep watch over knowledge, but He frustrates the words of the faithless. |
| 13The sluggard says, "There's a lion outside! I'll be killed in the public square!" | 13The slacker says, “There is a lion outside! I will be slain in the streets!” |
| 14The mouth of an adulterous woman is a deep pit; a man who is under the LORD's wrath falls into it. | 14The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit; he who is under the wrath of the LORD will fall into it. |
| 15Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far away. | 15Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him. |
| 16One who oppresses the poor to increase his wealth and one who gives gifts to the rich--both come to poverty. | 16Oppressing the poor to enrich oneself or giving gifts to the rich will surely lead to poverty. |
| 17Pay attention and turn your ear to the sayings of the wise; apply your heart to what I teach, | 17Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise—apply your mind to my knowledge— |
| 18for it is pleasing when you keep them in your heart and have all of them ready on your lips. | 18for it is pleasing when you keep them within you and they are constantly on your lips. |
| 19So that your trust may be in the LORD, I teach you today, even you. | 19So that your trust may be in the LORD, I instruct you today—yes, you. |
| 20Have I not written thirty sayings for you, sayings of counsel and knowledge, | 20Have I not written for you thirty sayings about counsel and knowledge, |
| 21teaching you to be honest and to speak the truth, so that you bring back truthful reports to those you serve? | 21to show you true and reliable words, that you may soundly answer those who sent you? |
| 22Do not exploit the poor because they are poor and do not crush the needy in court, | 22Do not rob a poor man because he is poor, and do not crush the afflicted at the gate, |
| 23for the LORD will take up their case and will exact life for life. | 23for the LORD will take up their case and will plunder those who rob them. |
| 24Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person, do not associate with one easily angered, | 24Do not make friends with an angry man, and do not associate with a hot-tempered man, |
| 25or you may learn their ways and get yourself ensnared. | 25or you may learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare. |
| 26Do not be one who shakes hands in pledge or puts up security for debts; | 26Do not be one who gives pledges, who puts up security for debts. |
| 27if you lack the means to pay, your very bed will be snatched from under you. | 27If you have nothing with which to pay, why should your bed be taken from under you? |
| 28Do not move an ancient boundary stone set up by your ancestors. | 28Do not move an ancient boundary stone which your fathers have placed. |
| 29Do you see someone skilled in their work? They will serve before kings; they will not serve before officials of low rank. | 29Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will be stationed in the presence of kings; he will not stand before obscure men. |
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