King James Version KJV
Revised Standard Version RSV
1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
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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.
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The dread wrath of a king is like the growling of a lion; he who provokes him to anger forfeits his life.
3 It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.
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It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife; but every fool will be quarreling.
4 The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.
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The sluggard does not plow in the autumn; he will seek at harvest and have nothing.
5 Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.
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The purpose in a man's mind is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out.
6 Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?
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Many a man proclaims his own loyalty, but a faithful man who can find?
7 The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.
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A righteous man who walks in his integrity--blessed are his sons after him!
8 A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment scattereth away 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 have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?
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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.
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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.
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Even a child makes himself known by his acts, whether what he does is pure and right.
12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them.
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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.
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Love not sleep, lest you 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.
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"It is bad, it is bad," says the buyer; but when he goes away, then he boasts.
15 There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a 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 his garment that is surety for a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.
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Take a man's garment when he has given surety for a stranger, and hold him in pledge when he gives surety for foreigners.
17 Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
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Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man, but afterward his mouth will be full of gravel.
18 Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.
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Plans are established by counsel; by wise guidance wage war.
19 He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.
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He who goes about gossiping reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with one who speaks foolishly.
20 Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.
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If one curses his father or his mother, his lamp will be put out in utter darkness.
21 An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.
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An inheritance gotten hastily in the beginning will in the end not be blessed.
22 Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.
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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.
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Diverse 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?
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A man's steps are ordered by the LORD; how then can man understand his way?
25 It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after vows to make enquiry.
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It is a snare for a man to say rashly, "It is holy," and to reflect only after making his vows.
26 A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them.
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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.
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The spirit of man is the lamp of the LORD, searching all his innermost parts.
28 Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy.
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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.
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The glory of young men is their strength, but the beauty of old men is their gray hair.
30 The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly.
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Blows that wound cleanse away evil; strokes make clean the innermost parts.
The King James Version is in the public domain.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the 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.