| New International Version | NET Bible |
| 1Better the poor whose walk is blameless than a fool whose lips are perverse. | 1Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity than one who is perverse in his speech and is a fool. |
| 2Desire without knowledge is not good-- how much more will hasty feet miss the way! | 2It is dangerous to have zeal without knowledge, and the one who acts hastily makes poor choices. |
| 3A person's own folly leads to their ruin, yet their heart rages against the LORD. | 3A person's folly subverts his way, and his heart rages against the LORD. |
| 4Wealth attracts many friends, but even the closest friend of the poor person deserts them. | 4Wealth adds many friends, but a poor person is separated from his friend. |
| 5A false witness will not go unpunished, and whoever pours out lies will not go free. | 5A false witness will not go unpunished, and the one who spouts out lies will not escape punishment. |
| 6Many curry favor with a ruler, and everyone is the friend of one who gives gifts. | 6Many people entreat the favor of a generous person, and everyone is the friend of the person who gives gifts. |
| 7The poor are shunned by all their relatives-- how much more do their friends avoid them! Though the poor pursue them with pleading, they are nowhere to be found. | 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. |
| 8The one who gets wisdom loves life; the one who cherishes understanding will soon prosper. | 8The one who acquires wisdom loves himself; the one who preserves understanding will prosper. |
| 9A false witness will not go unpunished, and whoever pours out lies will perish. | 9A false witness will not go unpunished, and the one who spouts out lies will perish. |
| 10It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury-- how much worse for a slave to rule over princes! | 10Luxury is not appropriate for a fool; how much less for a servant to rule over princes! |
| 11A person's wisdom yields patience; it is to one's glory to overlook an offense. | 11A person's wisdom makes him slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense. |
| 12A king's rage is like the roar of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass. | 12A king's wrath is like the roar of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass. |
| 13A foolish child is a father's ruin, and a quarrelsome wife is like the constant dripping of a leaky roof. | 13A foolish child is the ruin of his father, and a contentious wife is like a constant dripping. |
| 14Houses and wealth are inherited from parents, but a prudent wife is from the LORD. | 14A house and wealth are inherited from parents, but a prudent wife is from the LORD. |
| 15Laziness brings on deep sleep, and the shiftless go hungry. | 15Laziness brings on a deep sleep, and the idle person will go hungry. |
| 16Whoever keeps commandments keeps their life, but whoever shows contempt for their ways will die. | 16The one who obeys commandments guards his life; the one who despises his ways will die. |
| 17Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward them for what they have done. | 17The one who is gracious to the poor lends to the LORD, and the LORD will repay him for his good deed. |
| 18Discipline your children, for in that there is hope; do not be a willing party to their death. | 18Discipline your child, for there is hope, but do not set your heart on causing his death. |
| 19A hot-tempered person must pay the penalty; rescue them, and you will have to do it again. | 19A person with great anger bears the penalty, but if you deliver him from it once, you will have to do it again. |
| 20Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise. | 20Listen to advice and receive discipline, that you may become wise by the end of your life. |
| 21Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails. | 21There are many plans in a person's mind, but it is the counsel of the LORD which will stand. |
| 22What a person desires is unfailing love; better to be poor than a liar. | 22What is desirable for a person is to show loyal love, and a poor person is better than a liar. |
| 23The fear of the LORD leads to life; then one rests content, untouched by trouble. | 23Fearing the LORD leads to life, and one who does so will live satisfied; he will not be afflicted by calamity. |
| 24A sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he will not even bring it back to his mouth! | 24The sluggard plunges his hand in the dish, and he will not even bring it back to his mouth! |
| 25Flog a mocker, and the simple will learn prudence; rebuke the discerning, and they will gain knowledge. | 25Flog a scorner, and as a result the simpleton will learn prudence; correct a discerning person, and as a result he will understand knowledge. |
| 26Whoever robs their father and drives out their mother is a child who brings shame and disgrace. | 26The one who robs his father and chases away his mother is a son who brings shame and disgrace. |
| 27Stop listening to instruction, my son, and you will stray from the words of knowledge. | 27If you stop listening to instruction, my child, you will stray from the words of knowledge. |
| 28A corrupt witness mocks at justice, and the mouth of the wicked gulps down evil. | 28A crooked witness scorns justice, and the mouth of the wicked devours iniquity. |
| 29Penalties are prepared for mockers, and beatings for the backs of fools. | 29Judgments are prepared for scorners, and floggings for the backs of fools. |
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