The house of the righteous has great wealth,
but trouble accompanies the income of the wicked.

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There is treasure in the house of the godly,
    but the earnings of the wicked bring trouble.

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The house of the righteous contains great treasure,(A)
    but the income of the wicked brings ruin.(B)

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16 Better a little with the fear of the Lord
than great treasure with turmoil.(A)

17 Better a meal of vegetables where there is love
than a fattened ox(B) with hatred.(C)

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16 Better to have little, with fear for the Lord,
    than to have great treasure and inner turmoil.

17 A bowl of vegetables with someone you love
    is better than steak with someone you hate.

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16 Better a little with the fear of the Lord
    than great wealth with turmoil.(A)

17 Better a small serving of vegetables with love
    than a fattened calf with hatred.(B)

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20 The one who understands a matter finds success,(A)
and the one who trusts in the Lord will be happy.(B)

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20 Those who listen to instruction will prosper;
    those who trust the Lord will be joyful.

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20 Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers,[a](A)
    and blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord.(B)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 16:20 Or whoever speaks prudently finds what is good

11 A rich man’s wealth is his fortified city;
in his imagination it is like a high wall.(A)

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11 The rich think of their wealth as a strong defense;
    they imagine it to be a high wall of safety.

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11 The wealth of the rich is their fortified city;(A)
    they imagine it a wall too high to scale.

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Wealth attracts many friends,(A)
but a poor man is separated from his friend.

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Wealth makes many “friends”;
    poverty drives them all away.

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Wealth attracts many friends,
    but even the closest friend of the poor person deserts them.(A)

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21 An inheritance gained prematurely
will not be blessed ultimately.(A)

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21 An inheritance obtained too early in life
    is not a blessing in the end.

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21 An inheritance claimed too soon
    will not be blessed at the end.

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The plans of the diligent certainly lead to profit,
but anyone who is reckless certainly becomes poor.(A)

Making a fortune through a lying tongue
is a vanishing mist,[a] a pursuit of death.[b][c](B)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 21:6 Or a breath blown away
  2. Proverbs 21:6 Some Hb mss, LXX, Vg read a snare of death
  3. Proverbs 21:6 Lit is vanity, ones seeking death

Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity,
    but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty.

Wealth created by a lying tongue
    is a vanishing mist and a deadly trap.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. 21:6 As in Greek version; Hebrew reads mist for those who seek death.

The plans of the diligent lead to profit(A)
    as surely as haste leads to poverty.

A fortune made by a lying tongue
    is a fleeting vapor and a deadly snare.[a](B)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 21:6 Some Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint and Vulgate; most Hebrew manuscripts vapor for those who seek death

The result of humility is fear of the Lord,
along with wealth, honor, and life.(A)

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True humility and fear of the Lord
    lead to riches, honor, and long life.

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Humility is the fear of the Lord;
    its wages are riches and honor(A) and life.(B)

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The rich rule over the poor,(A)
and the borrower is a slave to the lender.(B)

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Just as the rich rule the poor,
    so the borrower is servant to the lender.

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The rich rule over the poor,
    and the borrower is slave to the lender.

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