| King James Bible | New International Version |
| 1Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife. | 1Better a dry crust with peace and quiet 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 prudent servant will rule over a disgraceful son and will share the inheritance as one of the family. |
| 3The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts. | 3The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the LORD tests the heart. |
| 4A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue. | 4A wicked person listens to deceitful lips; 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. | 5Whoever mocks the poor shows contempt for their Maker; whoever gloats over disaster will not go unpunished. |
| 6Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers. | 6Children's children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children. |
| 7Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince. | 7Eloquent lips are unsuited to a godless fool-- how much worse lying lips to a ruler! |
| 8A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth. | 8A bribe is seen as a charm by the one who gives it; they think success will come at every turn. |
| 9He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends. | 9Whoever would foster love covers over an offense, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends. |
| 10A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool. | 10A rebuke impresses a discerning person more than a hundred lashes a fool. |
| 11An evil man seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him. | 11Evildoers foster rebellion against God; the messenger of death will be sent against them. |
| 12Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly. | 12Better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool bent on folly. |
| 13Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house. | 13Evil will never leave the house of one who pays back evil for good. |
| 14The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with. | 14Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute 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 innocent-- the LORD detests them both. |
| 16Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it? | 16Why should fools have money in hand to buy wisdom, when they are not able to understand it? |
| 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 time of adversity. |
| 18A man void of understanding striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his friend. | 18One who has no sense shakes hands in pledge and puts up security for a neighbor. |
| 19He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction. | 19Whoever loves a quarrel loves sin; whoever builds a high gate invites destruction. |
| 20He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief. | 20One whose heart is corrupt does not prosper; one whose tongue is perverse falls into trouble. |
| 21He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy. | 21To have a fool for a child brings grief; there is no joy for the parent of a godless fool. |
| 22A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones. | 22A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. |
| 23A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment. | 23The wicked accept bribes in secret to pervert the course of justice. |
| 24Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth. | 24A discerning person keeps wisdom in view, but a fool's eyes wander 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 brings grief to his father and bitterness to the mother who bore him. |
| 26Also to punish the just is not good, nor to strike princes for equity. | 26If imposing a fine on the innocent is not good, surely to flog honest officials is not right. |
| 27He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit. | 27The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint, and whoever has understanding is even-tempered. |
| 28Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding. | 28Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent, and discerning if they hold their tongues. |
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