King James Version KJV
New International Version NIV
16 A gracious woman retaineth honour: and strong men retain riches.
16
A kindhearted woman gains honor, but ruthless men gain only wealth.
17 The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.
17
Those who are kind benefit themselves, but the cruel bring ruin on themselves.
18 The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward.
18
A wicked person earns deceptive wages, but the one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.
19 As righteousness tendeth to life: so he that pursueth evil pursueth it to his own death.
19
Truly the righteous attain life, but whoever pursues evil finds death.
20 They that are of a froward heart are abomination to the LORD: but such as are upright in their way are his delight.
20
The LORD detests those whose hearts are perverse, but he delights in those whose ways are blameless.
21 Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.
21
Be sure of this: The wicked will not go unpunished, but those who are righteous will go free.
22 As a jewel of gold in a swine's snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion.
22
Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion.
23 The desire of the righteous is only good: but the expectation of the wicked is wrath.
23
The desire of the righteous ends only in good, but the hope of the wicked only in wrath.
24 There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.
24
One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.
25 The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.
25
A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.
26 He that withholdeth corn, the people shall curse him: but blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it.
26
People curse the one who hoards grain, but they pray God’s blessing on the one who is willing to sell.
27 He that diligently seeketh good procureth favour: but he that seeketh mischief, it shall come unto him.
27
Whoever seeks good finds favor, but evil comes to one who searches for it.
28 He that trusteth in his riches shall fall: but the righteous shall flourish as a branch.
28
Those who trust in their riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.
29 He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind: and the fool shall be servant to the wise of heart.
29
Whoever brings ruin on their family will inherit only wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise.
30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.
30
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and the one who is wise saves lives.
31 Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth: much more the wicked and the sinner.
31
If the righteous receive their due on earth, how much more the ungodly and the sinner!
The King James Version is in the public domain.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.