1 B etter is the poor who walks in his integrity than he who is perverse in his lips and is a fool.

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

2 I t isn’t good to have zeal without knowledge; nor being hasty with one’s feet and missing the way.

Desire without knowledge is not good, and to be overhasty is to sin and miss the mark.

3 T he foolishness of man subverts his way; his heart rages against Yahweh.

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

4 W ealth adds many friends, but the poor is separated from his friend.

Wealth makes many friends, but the poor man is avoided by his neighbor.

5 A false witness shall not be unpunished. He who pours out lies shall not go free.

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

6 M any will entreat the favor of a ruler, and everyone is a friend to a man who gives gifts.

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

7 A ll the relatives of the poor shun him: how much more do his friends avoid him! He pursues them with pleas, but they are gone.

All 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.

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

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

9 A false witness shall not be unpunished. He who utters lies shall perish.

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

10 D elicate living is not appropriate 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 makes him slow to anger. It is his glory to overlook an offense.

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

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 as terrifying as the roaring of a lion, but his favor is as dew upon the grass.

13 A foolish son is the calamity of his father. A wife’s quarrels are a continual dripping.

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

14 H ouse and riches are an inheritance from fathers, but a prudent wife is from Yahweh.

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

15 S lothfulness casts into a deep sleep. The idle soul shall suffer hunger.

Slothfulness casts one into a deep sleep, and the idle person shall suffer hunger.

16 H e who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, but he who is contemptuous in his ways shall die.

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

17 H e who has pity on the poor lends to Yahweh; he will reward him.

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

18 D iscipline your son, for there is hope; don’t be a willing party to his death.

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

19 A hot-tempered man must pay the penalty, for if you rescue him, you must do it again.

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

20 L isten to counsel and receive instruction, that you may be wise in your latter end.

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

21 T here are many plans in a man’s heart, but Yahweh’s counsel will prevail.

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

22 T hat which makes a man to be desired is his kindness. A poor man is better than a liar.

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

23 T he fear of Yahweh leads to life, then contentment; he rests and will not be touched by trouble.

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

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

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

25 F log a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence; rebuke one who has understanding, and he will gain knowledge.

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

26 H e who robs his father and drives away his mother, is a son who causes shame and brings reproach.

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

27 I f you stop listening to instruction, my son, you will stray from the words of knowledge.

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

28 A corrupt witness mocks justice, and the mouth of the wicked gulps down iniquity.

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

29 P enalties are prepared for scoffers, and beatings for the backs of fools.

Judgments are prepared for scoffers, and stripes for the backs of fools.