23 In all toil there is profit,
    but mere talk (A)tends only to poverty.

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23 Work brings profit,
    but mere talk leads to poverty!

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In the house of the righteous there is much treasure,
    but trouble befalls 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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16 (A)Better is a little with the fear of the Lord
    than great treasure and trouble with it.

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

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By (A)steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for,
    and by (B)the fear of the Lord one (C)turns away from evil.
When a man's ways please the Lord,
    (D)he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

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Unfailing love and faithfulness make atonement for sin.
    By fearing the Lord, people avoid evil.

When people’s lives please the Lord,
    even their enemies are at peace with them.

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26 A worker's appetite works for him;
    his (A)mouth urges him on.

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26 It is good for workers to have an appetite;
    an empty stomach drives them on.

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A servant who deals wisely will rule over (A)a son who acts shamefully
    and (B)will share the inheritance as one of the brothers.

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A wise servant will rule over the master’s disgraceful son
    and will share the inheritance of the master’s children.

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17 (A)Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord,
    and he (B)will repay him for his (C)deed.

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17 If you help the poor, you are lending to the Lord
    and he will repay you!

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13 (A)Love not sleep, lest you (B)come to poverty;
    open your eyes, and you will have (C)plenty of bread.

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13 If you love sleep, you will end in poverty.
    Keep your eyes open, and there will be plenty to eat!

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The reward for humility and fear of the Lord
    is (A)riches and honor and life.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 22:4 Or The reward for humility is the fear of the Lord, riches and honor and life

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

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27 (A)Prepare your work outside;
    get everything ready for yourself in the field,
    and after that build your house.

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27 Do your planning and prepare your fields
    before building your house.

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18 (A)Whoever tends a fig tree will eat its fruit,
    and he who (B)guards his master will be honored.

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18 As workers who tend a fig tree are allowed to eat the fruit,
    so workers who protect their employer’s interests will be rewarded.

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23 (A)Know well the condition of your flocks,
    and (B)give attention to your herds,
24 for (C)riches do not last forever;
    and does a crown endure to all generations?
25 (D)When the grass is gone and the new growth appears
    and the vegetation of the mountains is gathered,
26 (E)the lambs will provide your clothing,
    and the goats the price of a field.
27 (F)There will be enough goats' milk for your food,
    for the food of your household
    and maintenance for your girls.

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23 Know the state of your flocks,
    and put your heart into caring for your herds,
24 for riches don’t last forever,
    and the crown might not be passed to the next generation.
25 After the hay is harvested and the new crop appears
    and the mountain grasses are gathered in,
26 your sheep will provide wool for clothing,
    and your goats will provide the price of a field.
27 And you will have enough goats’ milk for yourself,
    your family, and your servant girls.

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