| New King James Version | Berean Study Bible |
| 1Wine is a mocker, Strong drink is 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 wrath of a king is like the roaring of a lion; Whoever provokes him to anger sins against his own life. | 2The terror of a king is like the roar of a lion; whoever provokes him forfeits his own life. |
| 3It is honorable for a man to stop striving, Since any fool can start a quarrel. | 3It is honorable for a man to resolve a dispute, but any fool will quarrel. |
| 4The lazy man will not plow because of winter; He will beg during harvest and have nothing. | 4The slacker does not plow in season; at harvest time he looks, but nothing is there. |
| 5Counsel in the heart of man 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. |
| 6Most men will proclaim each his own goodness, But who can find a faithful man? | 6Many a man proclaims his loving devotion, but who can find a trustworthy man? |
| 7The righteous man walks in his integrity; His children are blessed after him. | 7The righteous man walks with integrity; blessed are his children after him. |
| 8A king who sits on the throne of judgment Scatters 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 clean, I am pure from my sin”? | 9Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure; I am cleansed from my sin”? |
| 10Diverse weights and diverse measures, They are both alike, an abomination to the LORD. | 10Differing weights and unequal measures—both are detestable to the LORD. |
| 11Even a child is known by his deeds, Whether what he does is pure and right. | 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. |
| 13Do not love sleep, lest you come to poverty; Open your eyes, and you will be satisfied with bread. | 13Do not love sleep, or you will grow poor; open your eyes, and you will have plenty of food. |
| 14“It is good for nothing,” cries the buyer; But when he has gone his way, then he boasts. | 14“Worthless, worthless!” says the buyer, but on the way out, he gloats. |
| 15There is gold and a multitude of rubies, 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 the garment of one who is surety for a stranger, And hold it as a pledge when it is for a seductress. | 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 filled with 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 counsel wage war. | 18Set plans by consultation, and wage war under sound guidance. |
| 19He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets; Therefore do not associate with one who flatters with his lips. | 19He who reveals secrets is a constant gossip; avoid the one who babbles with his lips. |
| 20Whoever curses his father or his mother, His lamp will be put out in deep darkness. | 20Whoever curses his father or mother, his lamp will be extinguished in deepest darkness. |
| 21An inheritance gained hastily at the beginning Will not be blessed at the end. | 21An inheritance gained quickly will not be blessed in the end. |
| 22Do not say, “I will recompense evil”; Wait for the LORD, and He will save you. | 22Do not say, “I will avenge this evil!” Wait on the LORD, and He will save you. |
| 23Diverse weights are an abomination to the LORD, And dishonest scales are not good. | 23Unequal weights are detestable to the LORD, and dishonest scales are no good. |
| 24A man’s steps are of the LORD; How then can a man understand his own way? | 24A man’s steps are from the LORD, so how can anyone understand his own way? |
| 25It is a snare for a man to devote rashly something as holy, And afterward to reconsider his vows. | 25It is a trap for a man to dedicate something rashly, only later to reconsider his vows. |
| 26A wise king sifts out the wicked, And brings the threshing wheel over them. | 26A wise king separates out the wicked and drives the threshing wheel over them. |
| 27The spirit of a man is the lamp of the LORD, Searching all the inner depths of his heart. | 27The spirit of a man is the lamp of the LORD, searching out his inmost being. |
| 28Mercy and truth preserve the king, And by lovingkindness he upholds his throne. | 28Loving devotion and faithfulness preserve a king; by these he maintains his throne. |
| 29The glory of young men is their strength, And the splendor of old men is their gray head. | 29The glory of young men is their strength, and gray hair is the splendor of the old. |
| 30Blows that hurt cleanse away evil, As do stripes the inner depths of the heart. | 30Lashes and wounds scour evil, and beatings cleanse the inmost parts. |
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