New Living Translation | New American Standard Bible 1995 |
1Choose a good reputation over great riches; being held in high esteem is better than silver or gold. | 1A good name is to be more desired than great wealth, Favor is better than silver and gold. |
2The rich and poor have this in common: The LORD made them both. | 2The rich and the poor have a common bond, The LORD is the maker of them all. |
3A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences. | 3The prudent sees the evil and hides himself, But the naive go on, and are punished for it. |
4True humility and fear of the LORD lead to riches, honor, and long life. | 4The reward of humility and the fear of the LORD Are riches, honor and life. |
5Corrupt people walk a thorny, treacherous road; whoever values life will avoid it. | 5Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse; He who guards himself will be far from them. |
6Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it. | 6Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it. |
7Just as the rich rule the poor, so the borrower is servant to the lender. | 7The rich rules over the poor, And the borrower becomes the lender's slave. |
8Those who plant injustice will harvest disaster, and their reign of terror will come to an end. | 8He who sows iniquity will reap vanity, And the rod of his fury will perish. |
9Blessed are those who are generous, because they feed the poor. | 9He who is generous will be blessed, For he gives some of his food to the poor. |
10Throw out the mocker, and fighting goes, too. Quarrels and insults will disappear. | 10Drive out the scoffer, and contention will go out, Even strife and dishonor will cease. |
11Whoever loves a pure heart and gracious speech will have the king as a friend. | 11He who loves purity of heart And whose speech is gracious, the king is his friend. |
12The LORD preserves those with knowledge, but he ruins the plans of the treacherous. | 12The eyes of the LORD preserve knowledge, But He overthrows the words of the treacherous man. |
13The lazy person claims, “There’s a lion out there! If I go outside, I might be killed!” | 13The sluggard says, "There is a lion outside; I will be killed in the streets!" |
14The mouth of an immoral woman is a dangerous trap; those who make the LORD angry will fall into it. | 14The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit; He who is cursed of the LORD will fall into it. |
15A youngster’s heart is filled with foolishness, but physical discipline will drive it far away. | 15Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; The rod of discipline will remove it far from him. |
16A person who gets ahead by oppressing the poor or by showering gifts on the rich will end in poverty. Sayings of the Wise | 16He who oppresses the poor to make more for himself Or who gives to the rich, will only come to poverty. |
17Listen to the words of the wise; apply your heart to my instruction. | 17Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise, And apply your mind to my knowledge; |
18For it is good to keep these sayings in your heart and always ready on your lips. | 18For it will be pleasant if you keep them within you, That they may be ready on your lips. |
19I am teaching you today—yes, you— so you will trust in the LORD. | 19So that your trust may be in the LORD, I have taught you today, even you. |
20I have written thirty sayings for you, filled with advice and knowledge. | 20Have I not written to you excellent things Of counsels and knowledge, |
21In this way, you may know the truth and take an accurate report to those who sent you. | 21To make you know the certainty of the words of truth That you may correctly answer him who sent you? |
22Don’t rob the poor just because you can, or exploit the needy in court. | 22Do not rob the poor because he is poor, Or crush the afflicted at the gate; |
23For the LORD is their defender. He will ruin anyone who ruins them. | 23For the LORD will plead their case And take the life of those who rob them. |
24Don’t befriend angry people or associate with hot-tempered people, | 24Do not associate with a man given to anger; Or go with a hot-tempered man, |
25or you will learn to be like them and endanger your soul. | 25Or you will learn his ways And find a snare for yourself. |
26Don’t agree to guarantee another person’s debt or put up security for someone else. | 26Do not be among those who give pledges, Among those who become guarantors for debts. |
27If you can’t pay it, even your bed will be snatched from under you. | 27If you have nothing with which to pay, Why should he take your bed from under you? |
28Don’t cheat your neighbor by moving the ancient boundary markers set up by previous generations. | 28Do not move the ancient boundary Which your fathers have set. |
29Do you see any truly competent workers? They will serve kings rather than working for ordinary people. | 29Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before obscure men. |
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. | New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org |
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