1 Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity than one who is perverse in his speech and is a fool.

1 Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.

1 (A)Better is a poor man who (B)walks in his integrityThan he who is perverse in (a)speech and is a fool.

1 Better a poor man who lives with integrity(A)than someone who has deceitful lips and is a fool.

1 A poor man who walks blamelessly is better than a fool who speaks perversely.

2 It is dangerous to have zeal without knowledge, and the one who acts hastily makes poor choices.

2 Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good; and he that hasteth with his feet sinneth.

2 Also it is not good for a person to be without knowledge,And he who hurries (b)(C)his footsteps (c)errs.

2 Even zeal is not good without knowledge,(B)and the one who acts hastily(a) sins.(C)

2 Furthermore, it isn't good to be ignorant, and whoever rushes into things misses the mark.

3 A person's folly subverts his way, and his heart rages against the Lord.

3 The foolishness of man perverteth his way: and his heart fretteth against the LORD.

3 The (D)foolishness of man ruins his way,And his heart (E)rages against the Lord.

3 A man’s own foolishness leads him astray,yet his heart rages against the Lord.(D)

3 A man's foolishness ruins his life, yet his heart rages against the LORD.

4 Wealth adds many friends, but a poor person is separated from his friend.

4 Wealth maketh many friends; but the poor is separated from his neighbour.

4 (F)Wealth adds many friends,But a poor man is separated from his friend.

4 Wealth attracts many friends,(E)but a poor man is separated from his friend.

4 Wealth brings many friends, but a poor man is deserted by his friend.

5 A false witness will not go unpunished, and the one who spouts out lies will not escape punishment.

5 A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape.

5 A (G)false witness will not go unpunished,And he who (d)(H)tells lies will not escape.

5 A false witness will not go unpunished,(F)and one who utters lies will not escape.(G)

5 A witness to lies will not go unpunished; the teller of falsehoods will not escape.

6 Many people entreat the favor of a generous person, and everyone is the friend of the person who gives gifts.

6 Many will intreat the favour of the prince: and every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts.

6 (I)Many will seek the favor of a (e)generous man,And every man is a friend to him who (J)gives gifts.

6 Many seek a ruler’s favor,(H)and everyone is a friend of one who gives gifts.(I)

6 Many curry favor of an official; everyone is a friend of the gift giver.

7 All 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.

7 All the brethren of the poor do hate him: how much more do his friends go far from him? he pursueth them with words, yet they are wanting to him.

7 All the brothers of a poor man hate him;How much more do his (K)friends abandon him!He (L)pursues them with words, but they are (f)gone.

7 All the brothers of a poor man hate him;(J)how much more do his friendskeep their distance from him!He may pursue them with words,(K)but they are not there.(b)

7 All the relatives of a poor person shun him how much more do his friends avoid him! Though he runs after them pleading, they aren't around.

8 The one who acquires wisdom loves himself; the one who preserves understanding will prosper.

8 He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: he that keepeth understanding shall find good.

8 He who gets (g)wisdom loves his own soul;He who keeps understanding will (M)find good.

8 The one who acquires good sense(c) loves himself;one who safeguards understanding finds success.(L)

8 Whoever obtains wisdom loves himself, and whoever treasures understanding will prosper.

9 A false witness will not go unpunished, and the one who spouts out lies will perish.

9 A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall perish.

9 A (N)false witness will not go unpunished,And he who (h)tells lies will perish.

9 A false witness will not go unpunished,and one who utters lies perishes.(M)

9 A witness to lies will not go unpunished; the teller of falsehoods will perish.

10 Luxury is not appropriate for a fool; how much less for a servant to rule over princes!

10 Delight is not seemly for a fool; much less for a servant to have rule over princes.

10 Luxury is (O)not fitting for a fool;Much less for a (P)slave to rule over princes.

10 Luxury is not appropriate for a fool(N)how much less for a slave to rule over princes!(O)

10 It's not fitting for a fool to live in luxury; neither is it for a servant to rule over princes.

11 A person's wisdom makes him slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.

11 The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression.

11 A man’s (Q)discretion makes him slow to anger,And it is his glory (R)to overlook a transgression.

11 A person’s insight gives him patience,(P)and his virtue is to overlook an offense.(Q)

11 A person's discretion makes him slow to anger, and it is to his credit that he ignores an offence.

12 A king's wrath is like the roar of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass.

12 The king's wrath is as the roaring of a lion; but his favour is as dew upon the grass.

12 The (S)king’s wrath is like the roaring of a lion,But his favor is like (T)dew on the grass.

12 A king’s rage is like the roaring of a lion,(R)but his favor is like dew on the grass.(S)

12 The king's anger is like the roaring of a lion, but his goodwill is like dew on the grass.

A Foolish Son Brings Ruin To Others

13 A foolish child is the ruin of his father, and a contentious wife is like a constant dripping.

13 A foolish son is the calamity of his father: and the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping.

13 A (U)foolish son is destruction to his father,And the (V)contentions of a wife are a constant dripping.

13 A foolish son is his father’s ruin,(T)and a wife’s nagging is an endless dripping.(U)

13 A father's ruin is a foolish son, and a wife's quarreling is like dripping water that never stops.

14 A house and wealth are inherited from parents, but a prudent wife is from the Lord.

14 House and riches are the inheritance of fathers: and a prudent wife is from the LORD.

14 House and wealth are an (W)inheritance from fathers,But a prudent wife is from the Lord.

14 A house and wealth are inherited from fathers,(V)but a sensible wife is from the Lord.

14 A house and self-sufficiency are a father's inheritance, but from the LORD comes an insightful wife.

15 Laziness brings on a deep sleep, and the idle person will go hungry.

15 Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger.

15 (X)Laziness casts into a deep sleep,And an idle (i)man will suffer hunger.

15 Laziness induces deep sleep,and a lazy person will go hungry.(W)

15 Laziness puts one to sleep, and an idle person will go hungry.

16 The one who obeys commandments guards his life; the one who despises his ways will die.

16 He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his own soul; but he that despiseth his ways shall die.

16 He who (Y)keeps the commandment keeps his soul,But he who (j)is careless of (k)conduct will die.

16 The one who keeps commands preserves himself;(X)one who disregards(d) his ways will die.(Y)

16 Whoever obeys a commandment keeps himself safe, but someone who is contemptuous in conduct will die.

17 The one who is gracious to the poor lends to the Lord, and the Lord will repay him for his good deed.

17 He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.

17 One who (Z)is gracious to a poor man lends to the Lord,And He will repay him for his (l)(AA)good deed.

17 Kindness to the poor is a loan to the Lord,(Z)and He will give a reward to the lender.(e)(AA)

17 Whoever is kind to the poor is lending to the LORD the benefit of his gift will return to him in abundance.

18 Discipline your child, for there is hope, but do not set your heart on causing his death.

18 Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.

18 (AB)Discipline your son while there is hope,And do not desire (m)his death.

18 Discipline your son while there is hope;don’t be intent on killing him.(f)(AB)

18 Discipline your son while there is still hope but don't set your heart on his destruction.

19 A person with great anger bears the penalty, but if you deliver him from it once, you will have to do it again.

19 A man of great wrath shall suffer punishment: for if thou deliver him, yet thou must do it again.

19 A man of great anger will bear the penalty,For if you rescue him, you will only have to do it again.

19 A person with great anger bears the penalty;if you rescue him, you’ll have to do it again.(AC)

19 The person who has great anger must pay the consequences, because if you rescue him, you will have to do it again.

20 Listen to advice and receive discipline, that you may become wise by the end of your life.

20 Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.

20 (AC)Listen to counsel and accept discipline,That you may be wise (n)the rest of your days.

20 Listen to counsel and receive instructionso that you may be wise later in life.(g)(AD)

20 Listen to advice and accept discipline, and you'll be wise for the rest of your life.

21 There are many plans in a person's mind, but it is the counsel of the Lord which will stand.

21 There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.

21 Many (AD)plans are in a man’s heart,But the (AE)counsel of the Lord will stand.

21 Many plans are in a man’s heart,but the Lord’s decree will prevail.(AE)

21 Many plans occupy the mind of a man, but the LORD's purposes will prevail.

22 What is desirable for a person is to show loyal love, and a poor person is better than a liar.

22 The desire of a man is his kindness: and a poor man is better than a liar.

22 What is desirable in a man is his (o)kindness,And it is better to be a poor man than a liar.

22 What is desirable in a man is his fidelity;better to be a poor man than a liar.(AF)

22 Human beings long for grace, and it's better to be poor than a man of deceit.

23 Fearing the Lord leads to life, and one who does so will live satisfied; he will not be afflicted by calamity.

23 The fear of the LORD tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.

23 The (p)(AF)fear of the Lord leads to life,So that one may sleep (AG)satisfied, (q)(AH)untouched by evil.

23 The fear of the Lord leads to life;one will sleep at night(h) without danger.(AG)

23 The fear of the LORD leads to life; whoever is satisfied with it will rest, untouched by evil.

24 The sluggard plunges his hand in the dish, and he will not even bring it back to his mouth!

24 A slothful man hideth his hand in his bosom, and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.

24 The (AI)sluggard buries his hand (AJ)in the dish,But will not even bring it back to his mouth.

24 The slacker buries his hand in the bowl;he doesn’t even bring it back to his mouth.(AH)

24 The lazy person buries his hand in his dish and doesn't bother to bring it back to his mouth.

25 Flog a scorner, and as a result the simpleton will learn prudence; correct a discerning person, and as a result he will understand knowledge.

25 Smite a scorner, and the simple will beware: and reprove one that hath understanding, and he will understand knowledge.

25 (AK)Strike a scoffer and the (r)naive may become shrewd,But (AL)reprove one who has understanding and he will (s)gain knowledge.

25 Strike a mocker, and the inexperienced learn a lesson;(AI)rebuke the discerning, and he gains knowledge.(AJ)

25 If you scourge a scoffer, the simple person may learn to be discreet; rebuke a discerning man and he will gain understanding.

Foolproof Instructions

26 The one who robs his father and chases away his mother is a son who brings shame and disgrace.

26 He that wasteth his father, and chaseth away his mother, is a son that causeth shame, and bringeth reproach.

26 He (AM)who assaults his father and drives his mother awayIs a shameful and disgraceful son.

26 The one who assaults his father and evicts his motheris a disgraceful and shameful son.

26 Whoever mistreats his father and alienates his mother is a son who brings both shame and disrespect.

27 If you stop listening to instruction, my child, you will stray from the words of knowledge.

27 Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge.

27 Cease listening, my son, to discipline,And you will stray from the words of knowledge.

27 If you stop listening to correction, my son,you will stray from the words of knowledge.

27 My son, if you stop listening to instruction, you will stray from the principles of knowledge.

28 A crooked witness scorns justice, and the mouth of the wicked devours iniquity.

28 An ungodly witness scorneth judgment: and the mouth of the wicked devoureth iniquity.

28 A rascally witness makes a mockery of justice,And the mouth of the wicked (t)(AN)spreads iniquity.

28 A worthless witness mocks justice,and a wicked mouth swallows iniquity.(AK)

28 A corrupt witness mocks justice, and the wicked person feeds on iniquity.

29 Judgments are prepared for scorners, and floggings for the backs of fools.

29 Judgments are prepared for scorners, and stripes for the back of fools.

29 (u)Judgments are prepared for (AO)scoffers,And (AP)blows for the back of fools.

29 Judgments are prepared for mockers,and beatings for the backs of fools.(AL) >

29 Condemnation is appropriate for mockers, just as beatings are for the backs of fools.

Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers.

International Standard Version Copyright © 1996-2008 by the ISV Foundation.

King James Version Public Domain

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 http://www.lockman.org

NET Bible copyright © 1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. NetBible