New King James Version

International Standard Version

1The preparations of the heart belong to man, But the answer of the tongue is from the LORD.

1People do the planning, but the end result is from the LORD.

2All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, But the LORD weighs the spirits.

2Everything a person does seems pure in his own opinion, but the LORD weighs intentions.

3Commit your works to the LORD, And your thoughts will be established.

3Entrust your work to the LORD, and your planning will succeed.

4The LORD has made all for Himself, Yes, even the wicked for the day of doom.

4The LORD made everything answerable to him, including the wicked at the time of trouble.

5Everyone proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD; Though they join forces, none will go unpunished.

5The LORD detests those who are proud; truly they will not go unpunished.

6In mercy and truth Atonement is provided for iniquity; And by the fear of the LORD one departs from evil.

6Iniquity is atoned for by gracious love and truth, and through fear of the LORD people turn from evil.

7When a man’s ways please the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

7When a person's ways please the LORD, even his enemies will be at peace with him.

8Better is a little with righteousness, Than vast revenues without justice.

8A little gain with righteousness is better than great income without justice.

9A man’s heart plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps.

9A person plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps.

10Divination is on the lips of the king; His mouth must not transgress in judgment.

10When a king is ready to speak officially, what he says should not err with respect to justice.

11Honest weights and scales are the LORD’s; All the weights in the bag are His work.

11Honest scales and balances are from the LORD; he made all the weights in the bag.

12It is an abomination for kings to commit wickedness, For a throne is established by righteousness.

12Kings detest wrongdoing, for through righteousness the throne is established.

13Righteous lips are the delight of kings, And they love him who speaks what is right.

13Kings take pleasure in righteous speech; they treasure a person who speaks what is upright.

14As messengers of death is the king’s wrath, But a wise man will appease it.

14The king's wrath results in a death sentence, but whoever is wise will appease him.

15In the light of the king’s face is life, And his favor is like a cloud of the latter rain.

15When a king is pleased, there is life, and his favor is like a cloud that brings spring rain.

16How much better to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.

16How much better than gaining gold is the acquisition of wisdom, the attainment of wisdom better than silver!

17The highway of the upright is to depart from evil; He who keeps his way preserves his soul.

17The road of the upright circumvents evil, and whoever watches how he lives preserves his life.

18Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.

18Pride precedes destruction; an arrogant spirit appears before a fall.

19Better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, Than to divide the spoil with the proud.

19Better to be humble among the poor, than to share what is stolen with the proud.

20He who heeds the word wisely will find good, And whoever trusts in the LORD, happy is he.

20Whoever listens to a word of instruction prospers, and anyone who trusts in the LORD is blessed.

21The wise in heart will be called prudent, And sweetness of the lips increases learning.

21The wise-hearted person is told to be discerning, and that pleasant speech promotes instruction.

22Understanding is a wellspring of life to him who has it. But the correction of fools is folly.

22Anyone who has understanding is a fountain of life, but foolishness brings punishment to fools.

23The heart of the wise teaches his mouth, And adds learning to his lips.

23A wise person's thoughts control his words, and his speech promotes instruction.

24Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, Sweetness to the soul and health to the bones.

24Pleasant words are honey from a honeycomb— sweet to the soul and healing for the body.

25There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.

25There is a road that seems right for a man to travel, but in the end it's the road to death.

26The person who labors, labors for himself, For his hungry mouth drives him on.

26The appetite of the laborer motivates him; indeed, his hunger drives him on.

27An ungodly man digs up evil, And it is on his lips like a burning fire.

27A worthless person concocts evil gossip — his lips are like a burning fire.

28A perverse man sows strife, And a whisperer separates the best of friends.

28A deceitful man stirs dissension, and anyone who gossips separates friends.

29A violent man entices his neighbor, And leads him in a way that is not good.

29A violent man entices his companion and leads him on a path that is not good.

30He winks his eye to devise perverse things; He purses his lips and brings about evil.

30Whoever winks knowingly is plotting deceit; anyone who purses his lips is bent towards evil.

31The silver-haired head is a crown of glory, If it is found in the way of righteousness.

31Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is obtained by following a righteous path.

32He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.

32Whoever controls his temper is better than a warrior, and anyone who has control of his spirit is better than someone who captures a city.

33The lot is cast into the lap, But its every decision is from the LORD.

33The dice is cast into someone's lap, but the outcome is from the LORD.

The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.

The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.