1 B etter is the poor who walks in his integrity Than one who 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 it is not good for a soul to be without knowledge, And he sins who hastens with his feet.

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

3 T he foolishness of a man twists his way, And his heart 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 is separated from his friend.

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

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

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

6 M any entreat the favor of the nobility, And every man is a friend to one 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 the poor hate him; How much more do his friends go far from him! He may pursue them with words, yet they abandon 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 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 speaks 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 servant to 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 makes him slow to anger, And his glory is to overlook 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 like the roaring of a lion, But his favor is like dew on 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 ruin of his father, And the contentions of a wife are a continual dripping.

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

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

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

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

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

16 H e who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, But he who is careless of his ways will 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 He will pay back what he has given.

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

18 C hasten your son while there is hope, And do not set your heart on his destruction.

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

19 A man of great wrath will suffer punishment; For if you rescue him, you will have 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 L isten to counsel and receive instruction, That you may be wise in your latter days.

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

21 T here are many plans in a man’s heart, Nevertheless the Lord ’s counsel—that will stand.

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

22 W hat is desired in a man is 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 leads to life, And he who has it will abide in satisfaction; He will not be visited with evil.

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

24 A lazy man buries his hand in the bowl, 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 become wary; Rebuke one who has understanding, and he will discern 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 mistreats 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 listening to instruction, my son, And you will stray from the words of knowledge.

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

28 A disreputable witness scorns justice, And the mouth of the wicked devours 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 beatings for the backs of fools.

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