New Living Translation NLT
King James Version KJV
1 Wine produces mockers; alcohol leads to brawls. Those led astray by drink cannot be wise.
1
Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
2 The king’s fury is like a lion’s roar; to rouse his anger is to risk your life.
2
The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.
3 Avoiding a fight is a mark of honor; only fools insist on quarreling.
3
It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.
4 Those too lazy to plow in the right season will have no food at the harvest.
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The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.
5 Though good advice lies deep within the heart, a person with 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 Many will say they are loyal friends, but who can find one who is truly reliable?
6
Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?
7 The godly walk with integrity; blessed are their children who follow them.
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The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.
8 When a king sits in judgment, he weighs all the evidence, distinguishing the bad from the good.
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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 cleansed my heart; I am pure and free from sin”?
9
Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?
10 False weights and unequal measures — the LORD detests double standards of every kind.
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Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the LORD.
11 Even children are known by the way they act, whether their conduct is pure, and whether it is right.
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Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.
12 Ears to hear and eyes to see— both are gifts from the LORD .
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The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them.
13 If you love sleep, you will end in poverty. Keep your eyes open, and there will be plenty to eat!
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Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.
14 The buyer haggles over the price, saying, “It’s worthless,” then brags about getting a bargain!
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It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.
15 Wise words are more valuable than much gold and many rubies.
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There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
16 Get security from someone who guarantees a stranger’s debt. Get a deposit if he does it for foreigners.
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Take his garment that is surety for a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.
17 Stolen bread tastes sweet, but it turns to gravel in the mouth.
17
Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
18 Plans succeed through good counsel; don’t go to war without wise advice.
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Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.
19 A gossip goes around telling secrets, so don’t hang around with chatterers.
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He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.
20 If you insult your father or mother, your light will be snuffed out in total darkness.
20
Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.
21 An inheritance obtained too early in life is not a blessing in the end.
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An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.
22 Don’t say, “I will get even for this wrong.” Wait for the LORD to handle the matter.
22
Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.
23 The LORD detests double standards; he is not pleased by dishonest scales.
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Divers weights are an abomination unto the LORD; and a false balance is not good.
24 The LORD directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way?
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Man's goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way?
25 Don’t trap yourself by making a rash promise to God and only later counting the cost.
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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 scatters the wicked like wheat, then runs his threshing wheel over them.
26
A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them.
27 The LORD ’s light penetrates the human spirit, exposing every hidden motive.
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The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.
28 Unfailing love and faithfulness protect the king; his throne is made secure through love.
28
Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy.
29 The glory of the young is their strength; the gray hair of experience is the splendor of the old.
29
The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the gray head.
30 Physical punishment cleanses away evil; such discipline purifies the heart.
30
The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly.
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by
Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
The King James Version is in the public domain.