New King James Version NKJV
Revised Standard Version RSV
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 a brawler; and whoever is led astray by it 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 dread wrath of a king is like the growling of a lion; he who provokes him to anger forfeits his life.
3 It is honorable for a man to stop striving, Since any fool can start a quarrel.
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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 man will not plow because of winter; He will beg during 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 each his own goodness, But who can find a faithful man?
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Many a man proclaims his own loyalty, 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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A righteous man who walks in his integrity--blessed are his sons after him!
8 A king who sits on the throne of judgment Scatters 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 Diverse weights and diverse measures, They are both alike, an 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 deeds, Whether what he does is pure and 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 has made them both.
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The hearing ear and the seeing eye, the LORD has made them both.
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 you come to poverty; open your eyes, and you will have plenty of 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 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 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 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 gained by deceit is sweet to a man, But afterward his mouth will 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 Plans are established by counsel; By wise counsel wage war.
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Plans are established by counsel; by wise guidance wage 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 who goes about gossiping reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with one who speaks foolishly.
20 Whoever curses his father or his mother, His lamp will be put out in deep 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 gained hastily at the beginning Will not be blessed at the end.
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An inheritance gotten hastily in the beginning will in the end not be blessed.
22 Do not say, "I will recompense evil"; 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 help you.
23 Diverse weights are an abomination to the Lord, And dishonest scales are not good.
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Diverse weights are an abomination to the LORD, and false scales are not good.
24 A man's steps are of the Lord; How then can a man 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 for a man to devote rashly something as holy, And afterward to reconsider his vows.
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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 sifts out the wicked, And brings the threshing wheel over them.
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A wise king winnows the wicked, and drives 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 lamp of the LORD, searching all his innermost parts.
28 Mercy and truth preserve the king, And by lovingkindness he upholds his throne.
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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 splendor of old men is their 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 Blows that hurt cleanse away evil, As do stripes the inner depths of the heart.
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Blows that wound cleanse away evil; strokes make clean the innermost parts.