A Comparison of Proverbs 19:1-3

Better to be a poor person who lives innocently
than to be one who talks dishonestly and is a fool.
A person without knowledge is no good.
A person in a hurry makes mistakes.
The stupidity of a person turns his life upside down,
and his heart rages against the LORD.
GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)
Meaning-for-Meaning (Closest Natural Equivalence)

Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity
than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool.
Desire without knowledge is not good,
and whoever makes haste with his feet misses his way.
When a man's folly brings his way to ruin,
his heart rages against the LORD.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Word-for-Word (Formal Equivalence)

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Better to be poor and honest
than to be dishonest and a fool.
Enthusiasm without knowledge is no good;
haste makes mistakes.
People ruin their lives by their own foolishness
and then are angry at the LORD.
New Living Translation (NLT)
Thought-for-Thought (Functional Equivalence)

Better to be poor and honest
than a rich person no one can trust.
Ignorant zeal is worthless;
haste makes waste.
People ruin their lives by their own stupidity,
so why does GOD always get blamed?
The Message (MSG)
Paraphrase (Retelling)

Visit our Bible Translation Guide for more information about the major differences between the clear, natural English of God’s Word and other translations.