New King James Version NKJV
Revised Standard Version RSV
1 Better is a dry morsel with quietness, Than a house full of feasting with strife.
1
Better is a dry morsel with quiet than a house full of feasting with strife.
2 A wise servant will rule over a son who causes shame, And will share an inheritance among the brothers.
2
A slave who deals wisely will rule over a son who acts shamefully, and will share the inheritance as one of the brothers.
3 The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, But the Lord tests the hearts.
3
The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and the LORD tries hearts.
4 An evildoer gives heed to false lips; A liar listens eagerly to a spiteful tongue.
4
An evildoer listens to wicked lips; and a liar gives heed to a mischievous tongue.
5 He who mocks the poor reproaches his Maker; He who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished.
5
He who mocks the poor insults his Maker; he who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished.
6 Children's children are the crown of old men, And the glory of children is their father.
6
Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of sons is their fathers.
7 Excellent speech is not becoming to a fool, Much less lying lips to a prince.
7
Fine speech is not becoming to a fool; still less is false speech to a prince.
8 A present is a precious stone in the eyes of its possessor; Wherever he turns, he prospers.
8
A bribe is like a magic stone in the eyes of him who gives it; wherever he turns he prospers.
9 He who covers a transgression seeks love, But he who repeats a matter separates friends.
9
He who forgives an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter alienates a friend.
10 Rebuke is more effective for a wise man Than a hundred blows on a fool.
10
A rebuke goes deeper into a man of understanding than a hundred blows into a fool.
11 An evil man seeks only rebellion; Therefore a cruel messenger will be sent against him.
11
An evil man seeks only rebellion, and a cruel messenger will be sent against him.
12 Let a man meet a bear robbed of her cubs, Rather than a fool in his folly.
12
Let a man meet a she-bear robbed of her cubs, rather than a fool in his folly.
13 Whoever rewards evil for good, Evil will not depart from his house.
13
If a man returns evil for good, evil will not depart from his house.
14 The beginning of strife is like releasing water; Therefore stop contention before a quarrel starts.
14
The beginning of strife is like letting out water; so quit before the quarrel breaks out.
15 He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the just, Both of them alike are an abomination to the Lord.
15
He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous are both alike an abomination to the LORD.
16 Why is there in the hand of a fool the purchase price of wisdom, Since he has no heart for it?
16
Why should a fool have a price in his hand to buy wisdom, when he has no mind?
17 A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity.
17
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
18 A man devoid of understanding shakes hands in a pledge, And becomes surety for his friend.
18
A man without sense gives a pledge, and becomes surety in the presence of his neighbor.
19 He who loves transgression loves strife, And he who exalts his gate seeks destruction.
19
He who loves transgression loves strife; he who makes his door high seeks destruction.
20 He who has a deceitful heart finds no good, And he who has a perverse tongue falls into evil.
20
A man of crooked mind does not prosper, and one with a perverse tongue falls into calamity.
21 He who begets a scoffer does so to his sorrow, And the father of a fool has no joy.
21
A stupid son is a grief to a father; and the father of a fool has no joy.
22 A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones.
22
A cheerful heart is a good medicine, but a downcast spirit dries up the bones.
23 A wicked man accepts a bribe behind the back To pervert the ways of justice.
23
A wicked man accepts a bribe from the bosom to pervert the ways of justice.
24 Wisdom is in the sight of him who has understanding, But the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.
24
A man of understanding sets his face toward wisdom, but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.
25 A foolish son is a grief to his father, And bitterness to her who bore him.
25
A foolish son is a grief to his father and bitterness to her who bore him.
26 Also, to punish the righteous is not good, Nor to strike princes for their uprightness.
26
To impose a fine on a righteous man is not good; to flog noble men is wrong.
27 He who has knowledge spares his words, And a man of understanding is of a calm spirit.
27
He who restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.
28 Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; When he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive.
28
Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.