| NET Bible | New Living Translation |
| 1Wine is a mocker and strong drink is a brawler; whoever goes astray by them is not wise. | 1Wine produces mockers; alcohol leads to brawls. Those led astray by drink cannot be wise. |
| 2The king's terrifying anger is like the roar of a lion; whoever provokes him sins against himself. | 2The king’s fury is like a lion’s roar; to rouse his anger is to risk your life. |
| 3It is an honor for a person to cease from strife, but every fool quarrels. | 3Avoiding a fight is a mark of honor; only fools insist on quarreling. |
| 4The sluggard will not plow during the planting season, so at harvest time he looks for the crop but has nothing. | 4Those too lazy to plow in the right season will have no food at the harvest. |
| 5Counsel in a person's heart is like deep water, but an understanding person draws it out. | 5Though good advice lies deep within the heart, a person with understanding will draw it out. |
| 6Many people profess their loyalty, but a faithful person--who can find? | 6Many will say they are loyal friends, but who can find one who is truly reliable? |
| 7The righteous person behaves in integrity; blessed are his children after him. | 7The godly walk with integrity; blessed are their children who follow them. |
| 8A king sitting on the throne to judge separates out all evil with his eyes. | 8When a king sits in judgment, he weighs all the evidence, distinguishing the bad from the good. |
| 9Who can say, "I have kept my heart clean; I am pure from my sin"? | 9Who can say, “I have cleansed my heart; I am pure and free from sin”? |
| 10Diverse weights and diverse measures--the LORD abhors both of them. | 10False weights and unequal measures — the LORD detests double standards of every kind. |
| 11Even a young man is known by his actions, whether his activity is pure and whether it is right. | 11Even children are known by the way they act, whether their conduct is pure, and whether it is right. |
| 12The ear that hears and the eye that sees--the LORD has made them both. | 12Ears to hear and eyes to see— both are gifts from the LORD. |
| 13Do not love sleep, lest you become impoverished; open your eyes so that you might be satisfied with food. | 13If you love sleep, you will end in poverty. Keep your eyes open, and there will be plenty to eat! |
| 14"It's worthless! It's worthless!" says the buyer, but when he goes on his way, he boasts. | 14The buyer haggles over the price, saying, “It’s worthless,” then brags about getting a bargain! |
| 15There is gold, and an abundance of rubies, but words of knowledge are like a precious jewel. | 15Wise words are more valuable than much gold and many rubies. |
| 16Take a man's garment when he has given security for a stranger, and when he gives surety for strangers, hold him in pledge. | 16Get security from someone who guarantees a stranger’s debt. Get a deposit if he does it for foreigners. |
| 17Bread gained by deceit tastes sweet to a person, but afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel. | 17Stolen bread tastes sweet, but it turns to gravel in the mouth. |
| 18Plans are established by counsel, so make war with guidance. | 18Plans succeed through good counsel; don’t go to war without wise advice. |
| 19The one who goes about gossiping reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with someone who is always opening his mouth. | 19A gossip goes around telling secrets, so don’t hang around with chatterers. |
| 20The one who curses his father and his mother, his lamp will be extinguished in the blackest darkness. | 20If you insult your father or mother, your light will be snuffed out in total darkness. |
| 21An inheritance gained easily in the beginning will not be blessed in the end. | 21An inheritance obtained too early in life is not a blessing in the end. |
| 22Do not say, "I will pay back evil!" Wait for the LORD, so that he may vindicate you. | 22Don’t say, “I will get even for this wrong.” Wait for the LORD to handle the matter. |
| 23The LORD abhors differing weights, and dishonest scales are wicked. | 23The LORD detests double standards; he is not pleased by dishonest scales. |
| 24The steps of a person are ordained by the LORD--so how can anyone understand his own way? | 24The LORD directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way? |
| 25It is a snare for a person to rashly cry, "Holy!" and only afterward to consider what he has vowed. | 25Don’t trap yourself by making a rash promise to God and only later counting the cost. |
| 26A wise king separates out the wicked; he turns the threshing wheel over them. | 26A wise king scatters the wicked like wheat, then runs his threshing wheel over them. |
| 27The human spirit is like the lamp of the LORD, searching all his innermost parts. | 27The LORD’s light penetrates the human spirit, exposing every hidden motive. |
| 28Loyal love and truth preserve a king, and his throne is upheld by loyal love. | 28Unfailing love and faithfulness protect the king; his throne is made secure through love. |
| 29The glory of young men is their strength, and the splendor of old men is gray hair. | 29The glory of the young is their strength; the gray hair of experience is the splendor of the old. |
| 30Beatings and wounds cleanse away evil, and floggings cleanse the innermost being. | 30Physical punishment cleanses away evil; such discipline purifies the heart. |
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