New King James Version | NET Bible |
1A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, Loving favor rather than silver and gold. | 1A good name is to be chosen rather than great wealth, good favor more than silver or gold. |
2The rich and the poor have this in common, The LORD is the maker of them all. | 2The rich and the poor meet together; the LORD is the creator of them both. |
3A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself, But the simple pass on and are punished. | 3A shrewd person sees danger and hides himself, but the naive keep right on going and suffer for it. |
4By humility and the fear of the LORD Are riches and honor and life. | 4The reward for humility and fearing the LORD is riches and honor and life. |
5Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse; He who guards his soul will be far from them. | 5Thorns and snares are in the path of the perverse, but the one who guards himself keeps far from them. |
6Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it. | 6Train a child in the way that he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it. |
7The rich rules over the poor, And the borrower is servant to the lender. | 7The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender. |
8He who sows iniquity will reap sorrow, And the rod of his anger will fail. | 8The one who sows iniquity will reap trouble, and the rod of his fury will end. |
9He who has a generous eye will be blessed, For he gives of his bread to the poor. | 9A generous person will be blessed, for he gives some of his food to the poor. |
10Cast out the scoffer, and contention will leave; Yes, strife and reproach will cease. | 10Drive out the scorner and contention will leave; strife and insults will cease. |
11He who loves purity of heart And has grace on his lips, The king will be his friend. | 11The one who loves a pure heart and whose speech is gracious--the king will be his friend. |
12The eyes of the LORD preserve knowledge, But He overthrows the words of the faithless. | 12The eyes of the LORD guard knowledge, but he overthrows the words of the faithless person. |
13The lazy man says, “There is a lion outside! I shall be slain in the streets!” | 13The sluggard says, "There is a lion outside! I will be killed in the middle of the streets!" |
14The mouth of an immoral woman is a deep pit; He who is abhorred by the LORD will fall there. | 14The mouth of an adulteress is like a deep pit; the one against whom the LORD is angry will fall into it. |
15Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; The rod of correction will drive it far from him. | 15Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far from him. |
16He who oppresses the poor to increase his riches, And he who gives to the rich, will surely come to poverty. | 16The one who oppresses the poor to increase his own gain and the one who gives to the rich--both end up only in poverty. |
17Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise, And apply your heart to my knowledge; | 17Incline your ear and listen to the words of the wise, and apply your heart to my instruction. |
18For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you; Let them all be fixed upon your lips, | 18For it is pleasing if you keep these sayings within you, and they are ready on your lips. |
19So that your trust may be in the LORD; I have instructed you today, even you. | 19So that your confidence may be in the LORD, I am making them known to you today--even you. |
20Have I not written to you excellent things Of counsels and knowledge, | 20Have I not written thirty sayings for you, sayings of counsel and knowledge, |
21That I may make you know the certainty of the words of truth, That you may answer words of truth To those who send to you? | 21to show you true and reliable words, so that you may give accurate answers to those who sent you? |
22Do not rob the poor because he is poor, Nor oppress the afflicted at the gate; | 22Do not exploit a poor person because he is poor and do not crush the needy in court, |
23For the LORD will plead their cause, And plunder the soul of those who plunder them. | 23for the LORD will plead their case and will rob those who are robbing them. |
24Make no friendship with an angry man, And with a furious man do not go, | 24Do not make friends with an angry person, and do not associate with a wrathful person, |
25Lest you learn his ways And set a snare for your soul. | 25lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare. |
26Do not be one of those who shakes hands in a pledge, One of those who is surety for debts; | 26Do not be one who strikes hands in pledge or who puts up security for debts. |
27If you have nothing with which to pay, Why should he take away your bed from under you? | 27If you do not have enough to pay, your bed will be taken right out from under you! |
28Do not remove the ancient landmark Which your fathers have set. | 28Do not move an ancient boundary stone which was put in place by your ancestors. |
29Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before unknown men. | 29Do you see a person skilled in his work? He will take his position before kings; he will not take his position before obscure people. |
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