King James Version KJV
New Revised Standard NRS
1 Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife.
1
Better is a dry morsel with quiet than a house full of feasting with strife.
2 A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.
2
A slave who deals wisely will rule over a child who acts shamefully, and will share the inheritance as one of the family.
3 The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts.
3
The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, but the Lord tests the heart.
4 A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.
4
An evildoer listens to wicked lips; and a liar gives heed to a mischievous tongue.
5 Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.
5
Those who mock the poor insult their Maker; those who are glad at calamity will not go unpunished.
6 Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.
6
Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of children is their parents.
7 Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.
7
Fine speech is not becoming to a fool; still less is false speech to a ruler.
8 A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.
8
A bribe is like a magic stone in the eyes of those who give it; wherever they turn they prosper.
9 He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.
9
One who forgives an affront fosters friendship, but one who dwells on disputes will alienate a friend.
10 A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.
10
A rebuke strikes deeper into a discerning person than a hundred blows into a fool.
11 An evil man seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
11
Evil people seek only rebellion, but a cruel messenger will be sent against them.
12 Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.
12
Better to meet a she-bear robbed of its cubs than to confront a fool immersed in folly.
13 Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
13
Evil will not depart from the house of one who returns evil for good.
14 The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.
14
The beginning of strife is like letting out water; so stop before the quarrel breaks out.
15 He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD.
15
One who justifies the wicked and one who condemns the righteous are both alike an abomination to the Lord.
16 Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it?
16
Why should fools have a price in hand to buy wisdom, when they have no mind to learn?
17 A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
17
A friend loves at all times, and kinsfolk are born to share adversity.
18 A man void of understanding striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his friend.
18
It is senseless to give a pledge, to become surety for a neighbor.
19 He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.
19
One who loves transgression loves strife; one who builds a high threshold invites broken bones.
20 He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.
20
The crooked of mind do not prosper, and the perverse of tongue fall into calamity.
21 He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.
21
The one who begets a fool gets trouble; the parent of a fool has no joy.
22 A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
22
A cheerful heart is a good medicine, but a downcast spirit dries up the bones.
23 A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.
23
The wicked accept a concealed bribe to pervert the ways of justice.
24 Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.
24
The discerning person looks to wisdom, but the eyes of a fool to the ends of the earth.
25 A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him.
25
Foolish children are a grief to their father and bitterness to her who bore them.
26 Also to punish the just is not good, nor to strike princes for equity.
26
To impose a fine on the innocent is not right, or to flog the noble for their integrity.
27 He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.
27
One who spares words is knowledgeable; one who is cool in spirit has understanding.
28 Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.
28
Even fools who keep silent are considered wise; when they close their lips, they are deemed intelligent.
The King James Version is in the public domain.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.