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

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

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 subverts his way; then his heart is resentful and frets against the Lord.

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

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

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

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

A false witness will not go unpunished, And he who tells lies will 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 seek the favor of a generous man, And every man is a friend to him who gives gifts.

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 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 who gains Wisdom loves his own life; he who keeps understanding shall prosper and 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 who breathes forth lies shall perish.

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

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

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

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 terrifying as the roaring of a lion, but his favor 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 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 destruction to his father, And the contentions of a wife are a constant dripping.

14 H ouse and riches are the inheritance from fathers, but a wise, understanding, and 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 casts one into a deep sleep, and the idle person shall suffer hunger.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

22 T hat which is desired in a man is loyalty and kindness, but 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 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 leads to life, So that one may sleep satisfied, untouched by evil.

24 T he sluggard buries his hand in the dish, 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 trike a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence; reprove a man of understanding, and he will increase in knowledge.

Strike a scoffer and the naive may become shrewd, But reprove one who has understanding and he will gain 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 who assaults his father and drives his mother away Is a shameful and disgraceful son.

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

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

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

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

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

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