| New International Version | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1The wicked flee though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion. | 1The wicked flee when no one is pursuing them, but the righteous are as bold as a lion. |
| 2When a country is rebellious, it has many rulers, but a ruler with discernment and knowledge maintains order. | 2When a land is in rebellion, it has many rulers, but with a discerning and knowledgeable person, it endures. |
| 3A ruler who oppresses the poor is like a driving rain that leaves no crops. | 3A destitute leader who oppresses the poor is like a driving rain that leaves no food. |
| 4Those who forsake instruction praise the wicked, but those who heed it resist them. | 4Those who reject the law praise the wicked, but those who keep the law battle against them. |
| 5Evildoers do not understand what is right, but those who seek the LORD understand it fully. | 5Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the LORD understand everything. |
| 6Better the poor whose walk is blameless than the rich whose ways are perverse. | 6Better a poor man who lives with integrity than a rich man who distorts right and wrong. |
| 7A discerning son heeds instruction, but a companion of gluttons disgraces his father. | 7A discerning son keeps the law, but a companion of gluttons humiliates his father. |
| 8Whoever increases wealth by taking interest or profit from the poor amasses it for another, who will be kind to the poor. | 8Whoever increases his wealth through excessive interest collects it for one who is kind to the poor. |
| 9If anyone turns a deaf ear to my instruction, even their prayers are detestable. | 9Anyone who turns his ear away from hearing the law-- even his prayer is detestable. |
| 10Whoever leads the upright along an evil path will fall into their own trap, but the blameless will receive a good inheritance. | 10The one who leads the upright into an evil way will fall into his own pit, but the blameless will inherit what is good. |
| 11The rich are wise in their own eyes; one who is poor and discerning sees how deluded they are. | 11A rich man is wise in his own eyes, but a poor man who has discernment sees through him. |
| 12When the righteous triumph, there is great elation; but when the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding. | 12When the righteous triumph, there is great rejoicing, but when the wicked come to power, people hide themselves. |
| 13Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy. | 13The one who conceals his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them will find mercy. |
| 14Blessed is the one who always trembles before God, but whoever hardens their heart falls into trouble. | 14Happy is the one who is always reverent, but one who hardens his heart falls into trouble. |
| 15Like a roaring lion or a charging bear is a wicked ruler over a helpless people. | 15A wicked ruler over a helpless people is like a roaring lion or a charging bear. |
| 16A tyrannical ruler practices extortion, but one who hates ill-gotten gain will enjoy a long reign. | 16A leader who lacks understanding is very oppressive, but one who hates dishonest profit prolongs his life. |
| 17Anyone tormented by the guilt of murder will seek refuge in the grave; let no one hold them back. | 17A man burdened by bloodguilt will be a fugitive until death. Let no one help him. |
| 18The one whose walk is blameless is kept safe, but the one whose ways are perverse will fall into the pit. | 18The one who lives with integrity will be helped, but one who distorts right and wrong will suddenly fall. |
| 19Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies will have their fill of poverty. | 19The one who works his land will have plenty of food, but whoever chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty. |
| 20A faithful person will be richly blessed, but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished. | 20A faithful man will have many blessings, but one in a hurry to get rich will not go unpunished. |
| 21To show partiality is not good-- yet a person will do wrong for a piece of bread. | 21It is not good to show partiality-- yet a man may sin for a piece of bread. |
| 22The stingy are eager to get rich and are unaware that poverty awaits them. | 22A greedy man is in a hurry for wealth; he doesn't know that poverty will come to him. |
| 23Whoever rebukes a person will in the end gain favor rather than one who has a flattering tongue. | 23One who rebukes a person will later find more favor than one who flatters with his tongue. |
| 24Whoever robs their father or mother and says, "It's not wrong," is partner to one who destroys. | 24The one who robs his father or mother and says, "That's no sin," is a companion to a man who destroys. |
| 25The greedy stir up conflict, but those who trust in the LORD will prosper. | 25A greedy person provokes conflict, but whoever trusts in the LORD will prosper. |
| 26Those who trust in themselves are fools, but those who walk in wisdom are kept safe. | 26The one who trusts in himself is a fool, but one who walks in wisdom will be safe. |
| 27Those who give to the poor will lack nothing, but those who close their eyes to them receive many curses. | 27The one who gives to the poor will not be in need, but one who turns his eyes away will receive many curses. |
| 28When the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding; but when the wicked perish, the righteous thrive. | 28When the wicked come to power, people hide, but when they are destroyed, the righteous flourish. |
| New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. | Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. |
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