| King James Bible | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife. | 1Better a dry crust with peace than a house full of feasting with strife. |
| 2A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren. | 2A wise servant will rule over a disgraceful son and share an inheritance among brothers. |
| 3The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts. | 3A crucible for silver, and a smelter for gold, and the LORD is the tester of hearts. |
| 4A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue. | 4A wicked person listens to malicious talk; a liar pays attention to a destructive tongue. |
| 5Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished. | 5The one who mocks the poor insults his Maker, and one who rejoices over calamity will not go unpunished. |
| 6Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers. | 6Grandchildren are the crown of the elderly, and the pride of sons is their fathers. |
| 7Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince. | 7Eloquent words are not appropriate on a fool's lips; how much worse are lies for a ruler. |
| 8A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth. | 8A bribe seems like a magic stone to its owner; wherever he turns, he succeeds. |
| 9He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends. | 9Whoever conceals an offense promotes love, but whoever gossips about it separates friends. |
| 10A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool. | 10A rebuke cuts into a perceptive person more than a hundred lashes into a fool. |
| 11An evil man seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him. | 11An evil man seeks only rebellion; a cruel messenger will be sent against him. |
| 12Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly. | 12Better for a man to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool in his foolishness. |
| 13Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house. | 13If anyone returns evil for good, evil will never depart from his house. |
| 14The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with. | 14To start a conflict is to release a flood; stop the dispute before it breaks out. |
| 15He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD. | 15Acquitting the guilty and condemning the just-- both are detestable to the LORD. |
| 16Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it? | 16Why does a fool have money in his hand with no intention of buying wisdom? |
| 17A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. | 17A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a difficult time. |
| 18A man void of understanding striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his friend. | 18One without sense enters an agreement and puts up security for his friend. |
| 19He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction. | 19One who loves to offend loves strife; one who builds a high threshold invites injury. |
| 20He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief. | 20One with a twisted mind will not succeed, and one with deceitful speech will fall into ruin. |
| 21He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy. | 21A man fathers a fool to his own sorrow; the father of a fool has no joy. |
| 22A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones. | 22A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones. |
| 23A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment. | 23A wicked man secretly takes a bribe to subvert the course of justice. |
| 24Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth. | 24Wisdom is the focus of the perceptive, but a fool's eyes roam to the ends of the earth. |
| 25A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him. | 25A foolish son is grief to his father and bitterness to the one who bore him. |
| 26Also to punish the just is not good, nor to strike princes for equity. | 26It is certainly not good to fine an innocent person or to beat a noble for his honesty. |
| 27He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit. | 27The intelligent person restrains his words, and one who keeps a cool head is a man of understanding. |
| 28Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding. | 28Even a fool is considered wise when he keeps silent, discerning when he seals his lips. |
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