| New King James Version | Berean Study Bible |
| 1Do not boast about tomorrow, For you do not know what a day may bring forth. | 1Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring. |
| 2Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth; A stranger, and not your own lips. | 2Let another praise you, and not your own mouth—a stranger, and not your own lips. |
| 3A stone is heavy and sand is weighty, But a fool’s wrath is heavier than both of them. | 3A stone is heavy and sand is a burden, but aggravation from a fool outweighs them both. |
| 4Wrath is cruel and anger a torrent, But who is able to stand before jealousy? | 4Wrath is cruel and anger is like a flood, but who can withstand jealousy? |
| 5Open rebuke is better Than love carefully concealed. | 5Better an open rebuke than love that is concealed. |
| 6Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. | 6The wounds of a friend are faithful, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. |
| 7A satisfied soul loathes the honeycomb, But to a hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet. | 7The soul that is full loathes honey, but to a hungry soul, any bitter thing is sweet. |
| 8Like a bird that wanders from its nest Is a man who wanders from his place. | 8Like a bird that strays from its nest is a man who wanders from his home. |
| 9Ointment and perfume delight the heart, And the sweetness of a man’s friend gives delight by hearty counsel. | 9Oil and incense bring joy to the heart, and the sweetness of a friend is counsel to the soul. |
| 10Do not forsake your own friend or your father’s friend, Nor go to your brother’s house in the day of your calamity; Better is a neighbor nearby than a brother far away. | 10Do not forsake your friend or your father’s friend, and do not go to your brother’s house in the day of your calamity; better a neighbor nearby than a brother far away. |
| 11My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, That I may answer him who reproaches me. | 11Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart, so that I can answer him who taunts me. |
| 12A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself; The simple pass on and are punished. | 12The prudent see danger and take cover; but the simple keep going and pay the penalty. |
| 13Take the garment of him who is surety for a stranger, And hold it in pledge when he is surety for a seductress. | 13Take the garment of him who posts security for a stranger; get collateral if it is for a foreigner. |
| 14He who blesses his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, It will be counted a curse to him. | 14If one blesses his neighbor with a loud voice early in the morning, it will be counted to him as a curse. |
| 15A continual dripping on a very rainy day And a contentious woman are alike; | 15A constant dripping on a rainy day and a contentious woman are alike— |
| 16Whoever restrains her restrains the wind, And grasps oil with his right hand. | 16restraining her is like holding back the wind or grasping oil with one’s right hand. |
| 17As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend. | 17As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. |
| 18Whoever keeps the fig tree will eat its fruit; So he who waits on his master will be honored. | 18Whoever tends a fig tree will eat its fruit, and he who looks after his master will be honored. |
| 19As in water face reflects face, So a man’s heart reveals the man. | 19As water reflects the face, so the heart reflects the true man. |
| 20Hell and Destruction are never full; So the eyes of man are never satisfied. | 20Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied; so the eyes of man are never satisfied. |
| 21The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, And a man is valued by what others say of him. | 21A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold, but a man is tested by the praise accorded him. |
| 22Though you grind a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with crushed grain, Yet his foolishness will not depart from him. | 22Though you grind a fool like grain with mortar and a pestle, yet his folly will not depart from him. |
| 23Be diligent to know the state of your flocks, And attend to your herds; | 23Be sure to know the state of your flocks, and pay close attention to your herds; |
| 24For riches are not forever, Nor does a crown endure to all generations. | 24for riches are not forever, nor does a crown endure to every generation. |
| 25When the hay is removed, and the tender grass shows itself, And the herbs of the mountains are gathered in, | 25When hay is removed and new growth appears and the grain from the hills is gathered, |
| 26The lambs will provide your clothing, And the goats the price of a field; | 26the lambs will provide you with clothing, and the goats with the price of a field. |
| 27You shall have enough goats’ milk for your food, For the food of your household, And the nourishment of your maidservants. | 27You will have plenty of goats’ milk to feed you—food for your household and nourishment for your maidservants. |
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