| New King James Version | New International Version |
| 1Better is the poor who walks in his integrity Than one who is perverse in his lips, and is a fool. | 1Better the poor whose walk is blameless than a fool whose lips are perverse. |
| 2Also it is not good for a soul to be without knowledge, And he sins who hastens with his feet. | 2Desire without knowledge is not good-- how much more will hasty feet miss the way! |
| 3The foolishness of a man twists his way, And his heart frets against the LORD. | 3A person's own folly leads to their ruin, yet their heart rages against the LORD. |
| 4Wealth makes many friends, But the poor is separated from his friend. | 4Wealth attracts many friends, but even the closest friend of the poor person deserts them. |
| 5A false witness will not go unpunished, And he who speaks lies will not escape. | 5A false witness will not go unpunished, and whoever pours out lies will not go free. |
| 6Many entreat the favor of the nobility, And every man is a friend to one who gives gifts. | 6Many curry favor with a ruler, and everyone is the 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. | 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. |
| 8He who gets wisdom loves his own soul; He who keeps understanding will find good. | 8The one who gets wisdom loves life; the one who cherishes understanding will soon prosper. |
| 9A false witness will not go unpunished, And he who speaks lies shall perish. | 9A false witness will not go unpunished, and whoever pours out lies will perish. |
| 10Luxury is not fitting for a fool, Much less for a servant to rule over princes. | 10It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury-- how much worse 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 wisdom yields patience; it is to one's glory 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 roar 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 child is a father's ruin, and a quarrelsome wife is like the constant dripping of a leaky roof. |
| 14Houses and riches are an inheritance from fathers, But a prudent wife is from the LORD. | 14Houses and wealth are inherited from parents, but a prudent wife is from the LORD. |
| 15Laziness casts one into a deep sleep, And an idle person will suffer hunger. | 15Laziness brings on deep sleep, and the shiftless go hungry. |
| 16He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, But he who is careless of his ways will die. | 16Whoever keeps commandments keeps their life, but whoever shows contempt for their ways will die. |
| 17He who has pity on the poor lends to the LORD, And He will pay back what he has given. | 17Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward them for what they have done. |
| 18Chasten your son while there is hope, And do not set your heart on his destruction. | 18Discipline your children, for in that there is hope; do not be a willing party to their death. |
| 19A man of great wrath will suffer punishment; For if you rescue him, you will have to do it again. | 19A hot-tempered person must pay the penalty; rescue them, and you will have to do it again. |
| 20Listen to counsel and receive instruction, That you may be wise in your latter days. | 20Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise. |
| 21There are many plans in a man’s heart, Nevertheless the LORD’s counsel—that will stand. | 21Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails. |
| 22What is desired in a man is kindness, And a poor man is better than a liar. | 22What a person desires is unfailing love; better to be poor 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; then one rests content, untouched by trouble. |
| 24A lazy man buries his hand in the bowl, And will not so much as bring it to his mouth again. | 24A sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he will not 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. | 25Flog a mocker, and the simple will learn prudence; rebuke the discerning, and they will gain knowledge. |
| 26He who mistreats his father and chases away his mother Is a son who causes shame and brings reproach. | 26Whoever robs their father and drives out their mother is a child who brings shame and disgrace. |
| 27Cease listening to instruction, my son, And you will stray from the words of knowledge. | 27Stop listening to instruction, my son, and you will stray from the words of knowledge. |
| 28A disreputable witness scorns justice, And the mouth of the wicked devours iniquity. | 28A corrupt witness mocks at justice, and the mouth of the wicked gulps down evil. |
| 29Judgments are prepared for scoffers, And beatings for the backs of fools. | 29Penalties are prepared for mockers, and beatings for the backs of fools. |
| The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. | 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. |
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