1 B etter is a poor man who walks in his integrity than a rich man who is perverse in his speech and is a fool.

¶ Better is the poor that walks in his integrity than he that is perverse in his lips and is a fool.

2 D esire without knowledge is not good, and to be overhasty is to sin and miss the mark.

¶ That the soul be without wisdom is not good, and he that hastens with his feet sins.

3 T he foolishness of man subverts his way; then his heart is resentful and frets against the Lord.

¶ The foolishness of man perverts his way, and his heart is wroth against the LORD.

4 W ealth makes many friends, but the poor man is avoided by his neighbor.

¶ Wealth makes many friends, but the poor is separated from his neighbour.

5 A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he who breathes out lies shall not escape.

¶ A false witness shall not go unpunished, and he that speaks lies shall not escape.

6 M any will entreat the favor of a liberal man, and every man is a friend to him who gives gifts.

¶ Many will intreat the favour of the prince, but every man is a friend to him that gives.

7 A ll the brothers of a poor man detest him—how much more do his friends go far from him! He pursues them with words, but they are gone.

All the brethren of the poor hate him; how much more shall his friends separate themselves from him? He shall seek their friendship and not find it.

8 H e who gains Wisdom loves his own life; he who keeps understanding shall prosper and find good.

¶ He that gets wisdom loves his own soul; he keeps intelligence that he might find that which is good.

9 A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he who breathes forth lies shall perish.

¶ The false witness shall not go unpunished, and he that speaks lies shall perish.

10 L uxury is not fitting for a fool—much less for a slave to rule over princes.

¶ Delight is not suitable for a fool; much less for a slave to have rule over princes.

11 G ood sense makes a man restrain his anger, and it is his glory to overlook a transgression or an offense.

¶ The discretion of a man defers his anger, and it is his glory to pass over a transgression.

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

¶ The king’s wrath is as the roaring of a lion, but his favour is as dew upon the grass.

13 A self-confident and foolish son is the calamity of his father, and the contentions of a wife are like a continual dripping.

¶ A foolish son is a pain unto his father, and the contentions of a wife are a continual dripping.

14 H ouse and riches are the inheritance from fathers, but a wise, understanding, and prudent wife is from the Lord.

¶ House and riches are the inheritance from fathers, but the prudent wife is from the LORD.

15 S lothfulness casts one into a deep sleep, and the idle person shall suffer hunger.

¶ Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep, and the negligent soul shall suffer hunger.

16 H e who keeps the commandment keeps his own life, but he who despises His ways shall die.

¶ He that keeps the commandment keeps his own soul, but he that despises his ways shall die.

17 H e who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord, and that which he has given He will repay to him.

¶ He that gives unto the poor lends unto the LORD, and he will give him his reward.

18 D iscipline your son while there is hope, but do not set yourself to his ruin.

¶ Chasten thy son while there is hope, but do not stir up thy soul to destroy him.

19 A man of great wrath shall suffer the penalty; for if you deliver him, he will cause you to do it again.

¶ A man of great wrath shall suffer the consequences, for even if thou deliver him, yet thou must do it again.

20 H ear counsel, receive instruction, and accept correction, that you may be wise in the time to come.

¶ Hear counsel, and receive chastening that thou may be wise in thy old age.

21 M any plans are in a man’s mind, but it is the Lord’s purpose for him that will stand.

¶ There are many thoughts in the heart of man; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD shall stand.

22 T hat which is desired in a man is loyalty and kindness, but a poor man is better than a liar.

¶ Contentment is unto men to show mercy, but it is better to do it unto the poor than to the liar.

23 T he reverent, worshipful fear of the Lord leads to life, and he who has it rests satisfied; he cannot be visited with evil.

¶ The fear of the LORD is unto life, and he that has it shall live satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.

24 T he sluggard buries his hand in the dish, and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.

¶ The slothful man hides his hand in his bosom and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.

25 S trike a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence; reprove a man of understanding, and he will increase in knowledge.

¶ Smite a scorner, and the simple will become prudent, and reproving one that has understanding, he will understand knowledge.

26 H e who does violence to his father and chases away his mother is a son who causes shame and brings reproach.

¶ He that steals from his father and chases away his mother is a son that causes shame and brings reproach.

27 C ease, my son, to hear instruction only to ignore it and stray from the words of knowledge.

¶ Cease, my son, to hear the teaching that induces one to deviate from the reasons of wisdom.

28 A worthless witness scoffs at justice, and the mouth of the wicked swallows iniquity.

¶ A witness of Belial shall scorn judgment, and the mouth of the wicked shall cover iniquity.

29 J udgments are prepared for scoffers, and stripes for the backs of fools.

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