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

A poor man who walks with honor is better than a fool who is sinful in his speaking.

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

It is not good for a person to be without much learning, and he who hurries with his feet rushes into sin.

3 T he foolishness of man ruins his way, And his heart rages against the Lord.

The foolish acts of man make his way bad, and his heart is angry toward the Lord.

4 W ealth adds many friends, But a poor man is separated from his friend.

Riches add many friends, but a poor man is separated from his friend.

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

A man who tells lies about someone will be punished. He who tells lies will not get away.

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

Many will ask for the favor of a man who gives much, and every man is a friend to him who gives gifts.

7 A ll 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.

All the brothers of a poor man hate him. How much more do his friends go far from him! He runs to them with words, but they are gone.

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

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

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

A man who tells lies about someone will be punished. He who tells lies will be lost.

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

It is not right for a fool to live in great comfort, and for sure, for a servant to rule over rulers.

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

A man’s understanding makes him slow to anger. It is to his honor to forgive and forget a wrong done to him.

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

The king’s anger is like the noise of a lion, but his favor is like morning water upon the grass.

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

A foolish son destroys his father. The arguing of a wife is like water falling drop by drop all the time.

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

House and riches are handed down from fathers, but an understanding wife is from the Lord.

15 L aziness casts into a deep sleep, And an idle man will suffer hunger.

Being lazy makes one go into a deep sleep, and a lazy man will suffer from being hungry.

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

He who keeps God’s Word keeps his soul, but he who is not careful of his ways will die.

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

He who shows kindness to a poor man gives to the Lord and He will pay him in return for his good act.

18 D iscipline your son while there is hope, And do not desire his death.

Punish your son if he needs it while there is hope, and do not worry about his crying.

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

An angry man will suffer punishment. For if you save him from his trouble, you will only have to do it again.

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

Listen to words about what you should do, and take your punishment if you need it, so that you may be wise the rest of your days.

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

There are many plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s plan that will stand.

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

What is desired 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 leads to life, So that one may sleep satisfied, untouched by evil.

The fear of the Lord leads to life, and he who has it will sleep well, and will not be touched by sin.

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

The lazy man buries his hand in the dish, and will not even bring it to his mouth again.

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

Hit a man who laughs at the truth, and the foolish may become wise. But speak strong words to one who has understanding, and he will get more learning.

26 H e who assaults his father and drives his mother away Is a shameful and disgraceful son.

He who hurts his father and puts his mother out of the house is a son who causes much shame.

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

My son, stop listening to teaching that will cause you to turn away from the words of much learning.

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

A man without worth who tells all he knows laughs at what is right and fair, and the mouth of the sinful spreads wrong-doing.

29 J udgments are prepared for scoffers, And blows for the back of fools.

Ways of punishing are made ready for those who laugh at the truth, and beatings are for the back of fools.