English Standard Version

Berean Study Bible

1Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.

1Wine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler, and whoever is led astray by them is not wise.

2The terror of a king is like the growling of a lion; whoever provokes him to anger forfeits his life.

2The terror of a king is like the roar of a lion; whoever provokes him forfeits his own life.

3It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarreling.

3It is honorable for a man to resolve a dispute, but any fool will quarrel.

4The sluggard does not plow in the autumn; he will seek at harvest and have nothing.

4The slacker does not plow in season; at harvest time he looks, but nothing is there.

5The purpose in a man’s heart is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out.

5The intentions of a man’s heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draws them out.

6Many a man proclaims his own steadfast love, but a faithful man who can find?

6Many a man proclaims his loving devotion, but who can find a trustworthy man?

7The righteous who walks in his integrity— blessed are his children after him!

7The righteous man walks with integrity; blessed are his children after him.

8A king who sits on the throne of judgment winnows all evil with his eyes.

8A king who sits on a throne to judge sifts out all evil with his eyes.

9Who can say, “I have made my heart pure; I am clean from my sin”?

9Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure; I am cleansed from my sin”?

10Unequal weights and unequal measures are both alike an abomination to the LORD.

10Differing weights and unequal measures—both are detestable to the LORD.

11Even a child makes himself known by his acts, by whether his conduct is pure and upright.

11Even a young man is known by his actions—whether his conduct is pure and upright.

12The hearing ear and the seeing eye, the LORD has made them both.

12Ears that hear and eyes that see—the LORD has made them both.

13Love not sleep, lest you come to poverty; open your eyes, and you will have plenty of bread.

13Do not love sleep, or you will grow poor; open your eyes, and you will have plenty of food.

14“Bad, bad,” says the buyer, but when he goes away, then he boasts.

14“Worthless, worthless!” says the buyer, but on the way out, he gloats.

15There is gold and abundance of costly stones, but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.

15There is an abundance of gold and rubies, but lips of knowledge are a rare treasure.

16Take a man’s garment when he has put up security for a stranger, and hold it in pledge when he puts up security for foreigners.

16Take the garment of the one who posts security for a stranger; get collateral if it is for a foreigner.

17Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man, but afterward his mouth will be full of gravel.

17Food gained by fraud is sweet to a man, but later his mouth is full of gravel.

18Plans are established by counsel; by wise guidance wage war.

18Set plans by consultation, and wage war under sound guidance.

19Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with a simple babbler.

19He who reveals secrets is a constant gossip; avoid the one who babbles with his lips.

20If one curses his father or his mother, his lamp will be put out in utter darkness.

20Whoever curses his father or mother, his lamp will be extinguished in deepest darkness.

21An inheritance gained hastily in the beginning will not be blessed in the end.

21An inheritance gained quickly will not be blessed in the end.

22Do not say, “I will repay evil”; wait for the LORD, and he will deliver you.

22Do not say, “I will avenge this evil!” Wait on the LORD, and He will save you.

23Unequal weights are an abomination to the LORD, and false scales are not good.

23Unequal weights are detestable to the LORD, and dishonest scales are no good.

24A man’s steps are from the LORD; how then can man understand his way?

24A man’s steps are from the LORD, so how can anyone understand his own way?

25It is a snare to say rashly, “It is holy,” and to reflect only after making vows.

25It is a trap for a man to dedicate something rashly, only later to reconsider his vows.

26A wise king winnows the wicked and drives the wheel over them.

26A wise king separates out the wicked and drives the threshing wheel over them.

27The spirit of man is the lamp of the LORD, searching all his innermost parts.

27The spirit of a man is the lamp of the LORD, searching out his inmost being.

28Steadfast love and faithfulness preserve the king, and by steadfast love his throne is upheld.

28Loving devotion and faithfulness preserve a king; by these he maintains his throne.

29The glory of young men is their strength, but the splendor of old men is their gray hair.

29The glory of young men is their strength, and gray hair is the splendor of the old.

30Blows that wound cleanse away evil; strokes make clean the innermost parts.

30Lashes and wounds scour evil, and beatings cleanse the inmost parts.

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.

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