Common English Bible CEB
English Standard Version ESV
1 Wine is a mocker; beer a carouser. Those it leads astray won't become wise.
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Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.
2 A king is as terrifying as a lion's growl. Those who anger him may lose their life.
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The terror of a king is like the growling of a lion; whoever provokes him to anger forfeits his life.
3 It is honorable to back off from a fight, but fools jump right in.
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It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarreling.
4 The lazy don't plow during winter; at harvest they look but find nothing.
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The sluggard does not plow in the autumn; he will seek at harvest and have nothing.
5 Advice comes from the deep waters of the heart; those with understanding can draw it out.
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The purpose in a man’s heart is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out.
6 Many people will say that they are loyal, but who can find a reliable person?
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Many a man proclaims his own steadfast love, but a faithful man who can find?
7 The righteous live with integrity; happy are their children who come after them.
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The righteous who walks in his integrity— blessed are his children after him!
8 A king who sits on his judgment throne sifts out all evil with his eyes.
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A king who sits on the throne of judgment winnows all evil with his eyes.
9 Who can say, "I'm innocent to the core; I'm cleansed from my sin"?
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Who can say, “I have made my heart pure; I am clean from my sin”?
10 False weights and measures— the LORD detests them both.
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Unequal weights and unequal measures are both alike an abomination to the Lord.
11 Even young people are known by their actions, whether their conduct is pure and upright.
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Even a child makes himself known by his acts, by whether his conduct is pure and upright.
12 Ears to hear and eyes to see— the LORD made them both.
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The hearing ear and the seeing eye, the Lord has made them both.
13 Don't love sleep or you will be poor; stay alert and you will have plenty to eat.
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Love not sleep, lest you come to poverty; open your eyes, and you will have plenty of bread.
14 The buyer says, "Bad, bad," but then goes away and brags.
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“Bad, bad, ” says the buyer, but when he goes away, then he boasts.
15 Much gold and many pearls exist, but wise speech is the most precious jewel.
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There is gold and abundance of costly stones, but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
16 Take the garment of the person who secures a loan for a stranger; take his pledge for a foreigner.
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Take a man’s garment when he has put up security for a stranger, and hold it in pledge when he puts up security for foreigners.
17 Stolen bread is sweet, but afterward the mouth is full of gravel.
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Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man, but afterward his mouth will be full of gravel.
18 Plans are firmed up by advice; wage wars with good guidance.
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Plans are established by counsel; by wise guidance wage war.
19 Gossips reveal secrets; don't associate with those who talk too much.
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Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with a simple babbler.
20 Those who curse their father or mother— their lamp will be snuffed out when it becomes dark.
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If one curses his father or his mother, his lamp will be put out in utter darkness.
21 Inheritance gained quickly at first won't bless later on.
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An inheritance gained hastily in the beginning will not be blessed in the end.
22 Don't say, "I'll repay the evildoer!" Wait for the LORD, and he will save you.
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Do not say, “I will repay evil”; wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you.
23 The LORD detests false weights; deceptive scales aren't right.
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Unequal weights are an abomination to the Lord, and false scales are not good.
24 A person's steps are from the LORD; how then can people understand their path?
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A man’s steps are from the Lord; how then can man understand his way?
25 It is a snare to say rashly, "It is holy," and only reflect after making the promise.
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It is a snare to say rashly, “It is holy, ”and to reflect only after making vows.
26 A wise king sifts out the wicked, and runs them over with a wheel.
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A wise king winnows the wicked and drives the wheel over them.
27 The breath of a person is the lamp of the LORD, searching all the inmost parts.
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The spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord, searching all his innermost parts.
28 Kindness and faithfulness protect the king; he supports his throne by kindness.
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Steadfast love and faithfulness preserve the king, and by steadfast love his throne is upheld.
29 Strength is the glory of young men; gray hair is the splendor of old age.
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The glory of young men is their strength, but the splendor of old men is their gray hair.
30 Blows and bruises remove evil; beatings cleanse the inner parts.
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Blows that wound cleanse away evil; strokes make clean the innermost parts.