| New King James Version | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1The preparations of the heart belong to man, But the answer of the tongue is from the LORD. | 1The reflections of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the LORD. |
| 2All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, But the LORD weighs the spirits. | 2All a man's ways seem right to him, but the LORD evaluates the motives. |
| 3Commit your works to the LORD, And your thoughts will be established. | 3Commit your activities to the LORD, and your plans will be achieved. |
| 4The LORD has made all for Himself, Yes, even the wicked for the day of doom. | 4The LORD has prepared everything for His purpose-- even the wicked for the day of disaster. |
| 5Everyone proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD; Though they join forces, none will go unpunished. | 5Everyone with a proud heart is detestable to the LORD; be assured, he will not go unpunished. |
| 6In mercy and truth Atonement is provided for iniquity; And by the fear of the LORD one departs from evil. | 6Wickedness is atoned for by loyalty and faithfulness, and one turns from evil by the fear of the LORD. |
| 7When a man’s ways please the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. | 7When a man's ways please the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. |
| 8Better is a little with righteousness, Than vast revenues without justice. | 8Better a little with righteousness than great income with injustice. |
| 9A man’s heart plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps. | 9A man's heart plans his way, but the LORD determines his steps. |
| 10Divination is on the lips of the king; His mouth must not transgress in judgment. | 10God's verdict is on the lips of a king; his mouth should not give an unfair judgment. |
| 11Honest weights and scales are the LORD’s; All the weights in the bag are His work. | 11Honest balances and scales are the LORD's; all the weights in the bag are His concern. |
| 12It is an abomination for kings to commit wickedness, For a throne is established by righteousness. | 12Wicked behavior is detestable to kings, since a throne is established through righteousness. |
| 13Righteous lips are the delight of kings, And they love him who speaks what is right. | 13Righteous lips are a king's delight, and he loves one who speaks honestly. |
| 14As messengers of death is the king’s wrath, But a wise man will appease it. | 14A king's fury is a messenger of death, but a wise man appeases it. |
| 15In the light of the king’s face is life, And his favor is like a cloud of the latter rain. | 15When a king's face lights up, there is life; his favor is like a cloud with spring rain. |
| 16How much better to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver. | 16Get wisdom-- how much better it is than gold! And get understanding-- it is preferable to silver. |
| 17The highway of the upright is to depart from evil; He who keeps his way preserves his soul. | 17The highway of the upright avoids evil; the one who guards his way protects his life. |
| 18Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall. | 18Pride comes before destruction, and an arrogant spirit before a fall. |
| 19Better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, Than to divide the spoil with the proud. | 19Better to be lowly of spirit with the humble than to divide plunder with the proud. |
| 20He who heeds the word wisely will find good, And whoever trusts in the LORD, happy is he. | 20The one who understands a matter finds success, and the one who trusts in the LORD will be happy. |
| 21The wise in heart will be called prudent, And sweetness of the lips increases learning. | 21Anyone with a wise heart is called discerning, and pleasant speech increases learning. |
| 22Understanding is a wellspring of life to him who has it. But the correction of fools is folly. | 22Insight is a fountain of life for its possessor, but the discipline of fools is folly. |
| 23The heart of the wise teaches his mouth, And adds learning to his lips. | 23A wise heart instructs its mouth and increases learning with its speech. |
| 24Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, Sweetness to the soul and health to the bones. | 24Pleasant words are a honeycomb: sweet to the taste and health to the body. |
| 25There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death. | 25There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death. |
| 26The person who labors, labors for himself, For his hungry mouth drives him on. | 26A worker's appetite works for him because his hunger urges him on. |
| 27An ungodly man digs up evil, And it is on his lips like a burning fire. | 27A worthless man digs up evil, and his speech is like a scorching fire. |
| 28A perverse man sows strife, And a whisperer separates the best of friends. | 28A contrary man spreads conflict, and a gossip separates close friends. |
| 29A violent man entices his neighbor, And leads him in a way that is not good. | 29A violent man lures his neighbor, leading him in a way that is not good. |
| 30He winks his eye to devise perverse things; He purses his lips and brings about evil. | 30The one who narrows his eyes is planning deceptions; the one who compresses his lips brings about evil. |
| 31The silver-haired head is a crown of glory, If it is found in the way of righteousness. | 31Gray hair is a glorious crown; it is found in the way of righteousness. |
| 32He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city. | 32Patience is better than power, and controlling one's temper, than capturing a city. |
| 33The lot is cast into the lap, But its every decision is from the LORD. | 33The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD. |
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