King James Version KJV
New Revised Standard NRS
1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
1
Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.
2 The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.
2
The dread anger of a king is like the growling of a lion; anyone who provokes him to anger forfeits life itself.
3 It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.
3
It is honorable to refrain from strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel.
4 The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.
4
The lazy person does not plow in season; harvest comes, and there is nothing to be found.
5 Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.
5
The purposes in the human mind are like deep water, but the intelligent will draw them out.
6 Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?
6
Many proclaim themselves loyal, but who can find one worthy of trust?
7 The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.
7
The righteous walk in integrity— happy are the children who follow them!
8 A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.
8
A king who sits on the throne of judgment winnows all evil with his eyes.
9 Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?
9
Who can say, "I have made my heart clean; I am pure from my sin"?
10 Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the LORD.
10
Diverse weights and diverse measures are both alike an abomination to the Lord.
11 Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.
11
Even children make themselves known by their acts, by whether what they do is pure and right.
12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them.
12
The hearing ear and the seeing eye— the Lord has made them both.
13 Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.
13
Do not love sleep, or else you will come to poverty; open your eyes, and you will have plenty of bread.
14 It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.
14
"Bad, bad," says the buyer, then goes away and boasts.
15 There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
15
There is gold, and abundance of costly stones; but the lips informed by knowledge are a precious jewel.
16 Take his garment that is surety for a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.
16
Take the garment of one who has given surety for a stranger; seize the pledge given as surety for foreigners.
17 Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
17
Bread gained by deceit is sweet, but afterward the mouth will be full of gravel.
18 Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.
18
Plans are established by taking advice; wage war by following wise guidance.
19 He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.
19
A gossip reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with a babbler.
20 Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.
20
If you curse father or mother, your lamp will go out in utter darkness.
21 An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.
21
An estate quickly acquired in the beginning will not be blessed in the end.
22 Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.
22
Do not say, "I will repay evil"; wait for the Lord, and he will help you.
23 Divers weights are an abomination unto the LORD; and a false balance is not good.
23
Differing weights are an abomination to the Lord, and false scales are not good.
24 Man's goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way?
24
All our steps are ordered by the Lord; how then can we understand our own ways?
25 It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after vows to make enquiry.
25
It is a snare for one to say rashly, "It is holy," and begin to reflect only after making a vow.
26 A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them.
26
A wise king winnows the wicked, and drives the wheel over them.
27 The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.
27
The human spirit is the lamp of the Lord, searching every inmost part.
28 Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy.
28
Loyalty and faithfulness preserve the king, and his throne is upheld by righteousness.
29 The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the gray head.
29
The glory of youths is their strength, but the beauty of the aged is their gray hair.
30 The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly.
30
Blows that wound cleanse away evil; beatings make clean the innermost parts.
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.