New King James Version NKJV
King James Version KJV
1 Wine is a mocker, Strong drink is a brawler, And whoever is led astray by it is not wise.
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Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
2 The wrath of a king is like the roaring of a lion; Whoever provokes him to anger sins against his own life.
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The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.
3 It is honorable for a man to stop striving, Since any fool can start a quarrel.
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It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.
4 The lazy man will not plow because of winter; He will beg during harvest and have nothing.
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The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in 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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Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.
6 Most men will proclaim each his own goodness, But who can find a faithful man?
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Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?
7 The righteous man walks in his integrity; His children are blessed after him.
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The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.
8 A king who sits on the throne of judgment Scatters all evil with his eyes.
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A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment scattereth away 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 Diverse weights and diverse measures, They are both alike, an abomination to the Lord.
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Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the LORD.
11 Even a child is known by his deeds, Whether what he does is pure and right.
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Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.
12 The hearing ear and the seeing eye, The Lord has made them both.
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The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them.
13 Do not love sleep, lest you come to poverty; Open your eyes, and you will be satisfied with bread.
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Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.
14 "It is good for nothing," cries the buyer; But when he has gone his way, then he boasts.
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It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.
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 a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
16 Take the garment of one who is surety for a stranger, And hold it as a pledge when it is for a seductress.
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Take his garment that is surety for a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.
17 Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man, But afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel.
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Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
18 Plans are established by counsel; By wise counsel wage war.
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Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.
19 He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets; Therefore do not associate with one who flatters with his lips.
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He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.
20 Whoever curses his father or his mother, His lamp will be put out in deep darkness.
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Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.
21 An inheritance gained hastily at the beginning Will not be blessed at the end.
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An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.
22 Do not say, "I will recompense evil"; Wait for the Lord, and He will save you.
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Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.
23 Diverse weights are an abomination to the Lord, And dishonest scales are not good.
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Divers weights are an abomination unto the LORD; and a false balance is not good.
24 A man's steps are of the Lord; How then can a man understand his own way?
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Man's goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way?
25 It is a snare for a man to devote rashly something as holy, And afterward to reconsider his vows.
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It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after vows to make enquiry.
26 A wise king sifts out the wicked, And brings the threshing wheel over them.
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A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them.
27 The spirit of a man is the lamp of the Lord, Searching all the inner depths of his heart.
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The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.
28 Mercy and truth preserve the king, And by lovingkindness he upholds his throne.
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Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy.
29 The glory of young men is their strength, And the splendor of old men is their gray head.
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The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the gray head.
30 Blows that hurt cleanse away evil, As do stripes the inner depths of the heart.
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The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The King James Version is in the public domain.