1 B etter the poor walking in his integrity, Than the perverse his lips, who a fool.

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

2 A lso, without knowledge the soul not good, And the hasty in feet is sinning.

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 folly of man perverteth his way, And against Jehovah is his heart wroth.

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

4 W ealth addeth many friends, And the poor from his neighbour is separated.

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

5 A false witness is not acquitted, Whoso breatheth out lies is not delivered.

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

6 M any entreat the face of the noble, And all have made friendship to a man of 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 brethren of the poor have hated him, Surely also his friends have been far from him, He is pursuing words -- they are not!

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 W hoso is getting heart is loving his soul, He is keeping understanding to find good.

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

9 A false witness is not acquitted, And whoso breatheth out lies perisheth.

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

10 L uxury is not comely for a fool, Much less for a servant to rule among princes.

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

11 T he wisdom of a man hath deferred his anger, And his glory to pass over 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 wrath of a king a growl as of a young lion, And as dew on the herb his good-will.

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

13 A calamity to his father a foolish son, And the contentions of a wife a continual dropping.

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 the inheritance of fathers, And from Jehovah an understanding wife.

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

15 S loth causeth deep sleep to fall, And an indolent soul doth hunger.

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

16 W hoso is keeping the command is keeping his soul, Whoso is despising His ways dieth.

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

17 W hoso is lending Jehovah is favouring the poor, And his deed He repayeth to him.

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

18 C hastise thy son, for there is hope, And to put him to death lift not up thy soul.

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

19 A man of great wrath is bearing punishment, For, if thou dost deliver, yet again thou dost add.

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

20 H ear counsel and receive instruction, So that thou art wise in thy latter end.

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 the purposes in a man's heart, And the counsel of Jehovah it standeth.

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

22 T he desirableness of a man his kindness, And better the poor 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 Jehovah to life, And satisfied he remaineth -- he is not charged with 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 slothful hath hidden his hand in a dish, Even unto his mouth he bringeth it not back.

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

25 A scorner smite, and the simple acts prudently, And give reproof to the intelligent, He understandeth 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 W hoso is spoiling a father causeth a mother to flee, A son causing shame, and bringing confusion.

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

27 C ease, my son, to hear instruction -- To err from sayings of knowledge.

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

28 A worthless witness scorneth judgment, And the mouth of the wicked swalloweth 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 have been prepared for scorners, And stripes 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.