| 1 Many have committed sin for a trifle, and whoever seeks to get rich will avert his eyes. | 1 For the sake of profit many sin, and the struggle for wealth blinds the eyes. |
| 2 As a stake is driven firmly into a fissure between stones, so sin is wedged in between selling and buying. | 2 Like a peg driven between fitted stones, between buying and selling sin is wedged in. |
| 3 If a man is not steadfast and zealous in the fear of the Lord, his house will be quickly overthrown. | 3 Unless you earnestly hold fast to the fear of the LORD, suddenly your house will be thrown down. |
| 4 When a sieve is shaken, the refuse remains; so a man's filth remains in his thoughts. | 4 When a sieve is shaken, the husks appear; so do a man's faults when he speaks. |
| 5 The kiln tests the potter's vessels; so the test of a man is in his reasoning. | 5 As the test of what the potter molds is in the furnace, so in his conversation is the test of a man. |
| 6 The fruit discloses the cultivation of a tree; so the expression of a thought discloses the cultivation of a man's mind. | 6 The fruit of a tree shows the care it has had; so too does a man's speech disclose the bent of his mind. |
| 7 Do not praise a man before you hear him reason, for this is the test of men. | 7 Praise no man before he speaks, for it is then that men are tested. |
| 8 If you pursue justice, you will attain it and wear it as a glorious robe. | 8 If you strive after justice you will attain it, and put it on like a splendid robe. |
| 9 Birds flock with their kind; so truth returns to those who practice it. | 9 Birds nest with their own kind, and fidelity comes to those who live by it. |
| 10 A lion lies in wait for prey; so does sin for the workers of iniquity. | 10 As a lion crouches in wait for prey, so do sins for evildoers. |
| 11 The talk of the godly man is always wise, but the fool changes like the moon. | 11 Ever wise are the discourses of the devout, but the godless man, like the moon, is inconstant. |
| 12 Among stupid people watch for a chance to leave, but among thoughtful people stay on. | 12 Limit the time you spend among fools, but frequent the company of thoughtful men. |
| 13 The talk of fools is offensive, and their laughter is wantonly sinful. | 13 The conversation of the wicked is offensive, their laughter is wanton guilt. |
| 14 The talk of men given to swearing makes one's hair stand on end, and their quarrels make a man stop his ears. | 14 Their oath-filled talk makes the hair stand on end, their brawls make one stop one's ears. |
| 15 The strife of the proud leads to bloodshed, and their abuse is grievous to hear. | 15 Wrangling among the haughty ends in bloodshed, their cursing is painful to hear. |
| 16 Whoever betrays secrets destroys confidence, and he will never find a congenial friend. | 16 He who betrays a secret cannot be trusted, he will never find an intimate friend. |
| 17 Love your friend and keep faith with him; but if you betray his secrets, do not run after him. | 17 Cherish your friend, keep faith with him; but if you betray his confidence, follow him not; |
| 18 For as a man destroys his enemy, so you have destroyed the friendship of your neighbor. | 18 For as an enemy might kill a man, you have killed your neighbor's friendship. |
| 19 And as you allow a bird to escape from your hand, so you have let your neighbor go, and will not catch him again. | 19 Like a bird released from the hand, you have let your friend go and cannot recapture him; |
| 20 Do not go after him, for he is too far off, and has escaped like a gazelle from a snare. | 20 Follow him not, for he is far away, he has fled like a gazelle from the trap. |
| 21 For a wound may be bandaged, and there is reconciliation after abuse, but whoever has betrayed secrets is without hope. | 21 A wound can be bound up, and an insult forgiven, but he who betrays secrets does hopeless damage. |
| 22 Whoever winks his eye plans evil deeds, and no one can keep him from them. | 22 He who has shifty eyes plots mischief and no one can ward him off; |
| 23 In your presence his mouth is all sweetness, and he admires your words; but later he will twist his speech and with your own words he will give offense. | 23 In your presence he uses honeyed talk, and admires your every word, But later he changes his tone and twists your words to your ruin. |
| 24 I have hated many things, but none to be compared to him; even the Lord will hate him. | 24 There is nothing that I hate so much, and the LORD hates him as well. |
| 25 Whoever throws a stone straight up throws it on his own head; and a treacherous blow opens up wounds. | 25 As a stone falls back on him who throws it up, so a blow struck in treachery injures more than one. |
| 26 He who digs a pit will fall into it, and he who sets a snare will be caught in it. | 26 As he who digs a pit falls into it, and he who lays a snare is caught in it, |
| 27 If a man does evil, it will roll back upon him, and he will not know where it came from. | 27 Whoever does harm will be involved in it without knowing how it came upon him. |
| 28 Mockery and abuse issue from the proud man, but vengeance lies in wait for him like a lion. | 28 Mockery and abuse will be the lot of the proud, and vengeance lies in wait for them like a lion. |
| 29 Those who rejoice in the fall of the godly will be caught in a snare, and pain will consume them before their death. | 29 The trap seizes those who rejoice in pitfalls, and pain will consume them before they die; |
| 30 Anger and wrath, these also are abominations, and the sinful man will possess them. | 30 Wrath and anger are hateful things, yet the sinner hugs them tight. |