12 The eyes of the Lord keep watch over knowledge,

but he frustrates the words of the unfaithful.

13 The sluggard says, “There’s a lion outside!

I’ll be killed in the public square!”

14 The mouth of an adulterous woman is a deep pit;

a man who is under the Lord’s wrath falls into it.

15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a child,

but the rod of discipline will drive it far away.

16 One who oppresses the poor to increase his wealth

and one who gives gifts to the rich—both come to poverty.

12 The eyes of the Lord preserve knowledge,

And he overthroweth the words of the transgressor.

13 The slothful man saith, There is a lion without,

I shall be slain in the streets.

14 The mouth of strange women is a deep pit:

He that is abhorred of the Lord shall fall therein.

15 Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child;

But the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.

16 He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches,

And he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want.

12 The Lord preserves those with knowledge,

but he ruins the plans of the treacherous.

13 The lazy person claims, “There’s a lion out there!

If I go outside, I might be killed!”

14 The mouth of an immoral woman is a dangerous trap;

those who make the Lord angry will fall into it.

15 A youngster’s heart is filled with foolishness,

but physical discipline will drive it far away.

16 A person who gets ahead by oppressing the poor

or by showering gifts on the rich will end in poverty.

12 The eyes of the Lord preserve knowledge,

But He overthrows the words of the faithless.

13 The lazy man says, “There is a lion outside!

I shall be slain in the streets!”

14 The mouth of an immoral woman is a deep pit;

He who is abhorred by the Lord will fall there.

15 Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child;

The rod of correction will drive it far from him.

16 He who oppresses the poor to increase his riches,

And he who gives to the rich, will surely come to poverty.

12 The Lord guards knowledge,

but he destroys false words.

13 The lazy person says, “There’s a lion outside!

I might get killed out in the street!”

14 The words of an unfaithful wife are like a deep trap.

Those who make the Lord angry will get caught by them.

15 Every child is full of foolishness,

but punishment can get rid of it.

16 Whoever gets rich by mistreating the poor,

and gives presents to the wealthy, will become poor.

12 The eyes of Jehovah preserve him that hath knowledge;

But he overthroweth the words of the treacherous man.

13 The sluggard saith, There is a lion without;

I shall be slain in the streets.

14 The mouth of strange women is a deep pit;

He that is abhorred of Jehovah shall fall therein.

15 Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child;

But the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.

16 He that oppresseth the poor to increase his gain,

And he that giveth to the rich, shall come only to want.

12 The eyes of Jehovah preserve knowledge; but he overthroweth the words of the unfaithful.

13 The sluggard saith, There is a lion without, I shall be killed in the streets!

14 The mouth of strange women is a deep ditch: he with whom Jehovah is displeased shall fall therein.

15 Folly is bound in the heart of a child; the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.

16 He that oppresseth the poor, it is to enrich him; he that giveth to the rich, bringeth only to want.

12 The Lord’s eyes watch over knowledge, 

but he overturns the words of a treacherous person. 

13 A lazy person says, 

“There’s a lion outside! 

I’ll be murdered in the streets!” 

14 The mouth of an adulterous woman is a deep pit. 

The one who is cursed by the Lord will fall into it. 

15 Foolishness is firmly attached to a child’s heart. 

Spanking will remove it far from him. 

16 Oppressing the poor for profit 

⸤or⸥ giving to the rich 

certainly leads to poverty. 

12 The Lord’s eyes keep watch over knowledge,

but He overthrows the words of the treacherous.

13 The slacker says, “There’s a lion outside!

I’ll be killed in the public square!”

14 The mouth of the forbidden woman is a deep pit;

a man cursed by the Lord will fall into it.

15 Foolishness is tangled up in the heart of a youth;

the rod of discipline will drive it away from him.

16 Oppressing the poor to enrich oneself,

and giving to the rich—both lead only to poverty.

12 The eyes of the Lord keep watch over knowledge,

but he overthrows the words of the faithless.

13 The lazy person says, “There is a lion outside!

I shall be killed in the streets!”

14 The mouth of a loose woman is a deep pit;

he with whom the Lord is angry falls into it.

15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a boy,

but the rod of discipline drives it far away.

16 Oppressing the poor in order to enrich oneself,

and giving to the rich, will lead only to loss.

12 The eyes of Yahweh keep watch over knowledge,

but he will overthrow the words of the faithless.

13 A lazy person says “A lion in the street!

In the middle of the highway, I shall be killed!”

14 A deep pit is the mouth of an adulteress,

he with whom Yahweh is angry will fall there.

15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a boy;

the rod of discipline will drive it from him.

16 He who oppresses the poor in order to enrich himself,

or gives to the rich, will come to poverty.

12 The eyes of the Lord keep watch over knowledge.

But he does away with the words of those who aren’t faithful.

13 People who don’t want to work say, “There’s a lion outside!”

Or they say, “I’ll be murdered if I go out into the streets!”

14 The mouth of a woman who commits adultery is like a deep pit.

Any man the Lord is angry with will fall into it.

15 A child is going to do foolish things.

But correcting him will drive his foolishness far away from him.

16 One person may beat poor people down in order to get rich.

Another person may give gifts to rich people. Both of them will become poor.

12 The eyes of the Lord preserve knowledge,

But He overthrows the words of the treacherous man.

13 The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside;

I will be killed in the streets!”

14 The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit;

He who is cursed of the Lord will fall into it.

15 Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child;

The rod of discipline will remove it far from him.

16 He who oppresses the poor to make more for himself

Or who gives to the rich, will only come to poverty.