English Standard Version

King James Bible

1The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother.

1The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.

2Treasures gained by wickedness do not profit, but righteousness delivers from death.

2Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivereth from death.

3The LORD does not let the righteous go hungry, but he thwarts the craving of the wicked.

3The LORD will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish: but he casteth away the substance of the wicked.

4A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich.

4He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.

5He who gathers in summer is a prudent son, but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who brings shame.

5He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame.

6Blessings are on the head of the righteous, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

6Blessings are upon the head of the just: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.

7The memory of the righteous is a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot.

7The memory of the just is blessed: but the name of the wicked shall rot.

8The wise of heart will receive commandments, but a babbling fool will come to ruin.

8The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall.

9Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out.

9He that walketh uprightly walketh surely: but he that perverteth his ways shall be known.

10Whoever winks the eye causes trouble, and a babbling fool will come to ruin.

10He that winketh with the eye causeth sorrow: but a prating fool shall fall.

11The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

11The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.

12Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.

12Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.

13On the lips of him who has understanding, wisdom is found, but a rod is for the back of him who lacks sense.

13In the lips of him that hath understanding wisdom is found: but a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding.

14The wise lay up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool brings ruin near.

14Wise men lay up knowledge: but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction.

15A rich man’s wealth is his strong city; the poverty of the poor is their ruin.

15The rich man's wealth is his strong city: the destruction of the poor is their poverty.

16The wage of the righteous leads to life, the gain of the wicked to sin.

16The labour of the righteous tendeth to life: the fruit of the wicked to sin.

17Whoever heeds instruction is on the path to life, but he who rejects reproof leads others astray.

17He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth reproof erreth.

18The one who conceals hatred has lying lips, and whoever utters slander is a fool.

18He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool.

19When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.

19In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.

20The tongue of the righteous is choice silver; the heart of the wicked is of little worth.

20The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth.

21The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of sense.

21The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom.

22The blessing of the LORD makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it.

22The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.

23Doing wrong is like a joke to a fool, but wisdom is pleasure to a man of understanding.

23It is as sport to a fool to do mischief: but a man of understanding hath wisdom.

24What the wicked dreads will come upon him, but the desire of the righteous will be granted.

24The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him: but the desire of the righteous shall be granted.

25When the tempest passes, the wicked is no more, but the righteous is established forever.

25As the whirlwind passeth, so is the wicked no more: but the righteous is an everlasting foundation.

26Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to those who send him.

26As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to them that send him.

27The fear of the LORD prolongs life, but the years of the wicked will be short.

27The fear of the LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.

28The hope of the righteous brings joy, but the expectation of the wicked will perish.

28The hope of the righteous shall be gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish.

29The way of the LORD is a stronghold to the blameless, but destruction to evildoers.

29The way of the LORD is strength to the upright: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.

30The righteous will never be removed, but the wicked will not dwell in the land.

30The righteous shall never be removed: but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth.

31The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but the perverse tongue will be cut off.

31The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom: but the froward tongue shall be cut out.

32The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked, what is perverse.

32The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaketh frowardness.

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.

King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.