| New King James Version | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Better is the poor who walks in his integrity Than one who is perverse in his lips, and is a fool. | 1Better a poor man who lives with integrity than someone who has deceitful lips and is a fool. |
| 2Also it is not good for a soul to be without knowledge, And he sins who hastens with his feet. | 2Even zeal is not good without knowledge, and the one who acts hastily sins. |
| 3The foolishness of a man twists his way, And his heart frets against the LORD. | 3A man's own foolishness leads him astray, yet his heart rages against the LORD. |
| 4Wealth makes many friends, But the poor is separated from his friend. | 4Wealth attracts many friends, but a poor man is separated from his friend. |
| 5A false witness will not go unpunished, And he who speaks lies will not escape. | 5A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who utters lies will not escape. |
| 6Many entreat the favor of the nobility, And every man is a friend to one who gives gifts. | 6Many seek a ruler's favor, and everyone is a friend of one who gives gifts. |
| 7All the brothers of the poor hate him; How much more do his friends go far from him! He may pursue them with words, yet they abandon him. | 7All the brothers of a poor man hate him; how much more do his friends keep their distance from him! He may pursue them with words, but they are not there. |
| 8He who gets wisdom loves his own soul; He who keeps understanding will find good. | 8The one who acquires good sense loves himself; one who safeguards understanding finds success. |
| 9A false witness will not go unpunished, And he who speaks lies shall perish. | 9A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who utters lies perishes. |
| 10Luxury is not fitting for a fool, Much less for a servant to rule over princes. | 10Luxury is not appropriate for a fool-- how much less for a slave to rule over princes! |
| 11The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger, And his glory is to overlook a transgression. | 11A person's insight gives him patience, and his virtue is to overlook an offense. |
| 12The king’s wrath is like the roaring of a lion, But his favor is like dew on the grass. | 12A king's rage is like the roaring of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass. |
| 13A foolish son is the ruin of his father, And the contentions of a wife are a continual dripping. | 13A foolish son is his father's ruin, and a wife's nagging is an endless dripping. |
| 14Houses and riches are an inheritance from fathers, But a prudent wife is from the LORD. | 14A house and wealth are inherited from fathers, but a sensible wife is from the LORD. |
| 15Laziness casts one into a deep sleep, And an idle person will suffer hunger. | 15Laziness induces deep sleep, and a lazy person will go hungry. |
| 16He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, But he who is careless of his ways will die. | 16The one who keeps commands preserves himself; one who disregards his ways will die. |
| 17He who has pity on the poor lends to the LORD, And He will pay back what he has given. | 17Kindness to the poor is a loan to the LORD, and He will give a reward to the lender. |
| 18Chasten your son while there is hope, And do not set your heart on his destruction. | 18Discipline your son while there is hope; don't be intent on killing him. |
| 19A man of great wrath will suffer punishment; For if you rescue him, you will have to do it again. | 19A person with great anger bears the penalty; if you rescue him, you'll have to do it again. |
| 20Listen to counsel and receive instruction, That you may be wise in your latter days. | 20Listen to counsel and receive instruction so that you may be wise later in life. |
| 21There are many plans in a man’s heart, Nevertheless the LORD’s counsel—that will stand. | 21Many plans are in a man's heart, but the LORD's decree will prevail. |
| 22What is desired in a man is kindness, And a poor man is better than a liar. | 22What is desirable in a man is his fidelity; better to be a poor man than a liar. |
| 23The fear of the LORD leads to life, And he who has it will abide in satisfaction; He will not be visited with evil. | 23The fear of the LORD leads to life; one will sleep at night without danger. |
| 24A lazy man buries his hand in the bowl, And will not so much as bring it to his mouth again. | 24The slacker buries his hand in the bowl; he doesn't even bring it back to his mouth. |
| 25Strike a scoffer, and the simple will become wary; Rebuke one who has understanding, and he will discern knowledge. | 25Strike a mocker, and the inexperienced learn a lesson; rebuke the discerning, and he gains knowledge. |
| 26He who mistreats his father and chases away his mother Is a son who causes shame and brings reproach. | 26The one who assaults his father and evicts his mother is a disgraceful and shameful son. |
| 27Cease listening to instruction, my son, And you will stray from the words of knowledge. | 27If you stop listening to correction, my son, you will stray from the words of knowledge. |
| 28A disreputable witness scorns justice, And the mouth of the wicked devours iniquity. | 28A worthless witness mocks justice, and a wicked mouth swallows iniquity. |
| 29Judgments are prepared for scoffers, And beatings for the backs of fools. | 29Judgments are prepared for mockers, and beatings for the backs of fools. |
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