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

Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity Than he who is perverse in speech and is a fool.

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

Also it is not good for a person to be without knowledge, And he who hurries his footsteps errs.

3 T he foolishness of man perverteth his way: and his heart fretteth against the Lord.

The foolishness of man ruins his way, And his heart rages against the Lord.

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

Wealth adds many friends, But a poor man is separated from his friend.

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

A false witness will not go unpunished, And he who tells lies will not escape.

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

Many will seek the favor of a generous man, And every man is a friend to him who gives gifts.

7 A ll 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.

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

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

He who gets wisdom loves his own soul; He who keeps understanding will find good.

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

A false witness will not go unpunished, And he who tells lies will perish.

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

Luxury is not fitting for a fool; Much less for a slave to rule over princes.

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

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

12 T he king’s wrath is as the roaring of a lion; but his favour is as dew upon the grass.

The king’s wrath is like the roaring of a lion, But his favor is like dew on the grass.

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

A foolish son is destruction to his father, And the contentions of a wife are a constant dripping.

14 H ouse and riches are the inheritance of fathers: and a prudent wife is from the Lord.

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

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

Laziness casts into a deep sleep, And an idle man will suffer hunger.

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

He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, But he who is careless of conduct will die.

17 H e that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.

One who is gracious to a poor man lends to the Lord, And He will repay him for his good deed.

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

Discipline your son while there is hope, And do not desire his death.

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

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

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

Listen to counsel and accept discipline, That you may be wise the rest of your days.

21 T here are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand.

Many plans are in a man’s heart, But the counsel of the Lord will stand.

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

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

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

The fear of the Lord leads to life, So that one may sleep satisfied, untouched by evil.

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

The sluggard buries his hand in the dish, But will not even bring it back to his mouth.

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

Strike a scoffer and the naive may become shrewd, But reprove one who has understanding and he will gain knowledge.

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

He who assaults his father and drives his mother away Is a shameful and disgraceful son.

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

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

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

A rascally witness makes a mockery of justice, And the mouth of the wicked spreads iniquity.

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

Judgments are prepared for scoffers, And blows for the back of fools.