| New King James Version | King James Bible |
| 1Better is a dry morsel with quietness, Than a house full of feasting with strife. | 1Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife. |
| 2A wise servant will rule over a son who causes shame, And will share an inheritance among the brothers. | 2A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren. |
| 3The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, But the LORD tests the hearts. | 3The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts. |
| 4An evildoer gives heed to false lips; A liar listens eagerly to a spiteful tongue. | 4A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue. |
| 5He who mocks the poor reproaches his Maker; He who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished. | 5Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished. |
| 6Children’s children are the crown of old men, And the glory of children is their father. | 6Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers. |
| 7Excellent speech is not becoming to a fool, Much less lying lips to a prince. | 7Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince. |
| 8A present is a precious stone in the eyes of its possessor; Wherever he turns, he prospers. | 8A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth. |
| 9He who covers a transgression seeks love, But he who repeats a matter separates friends. | 9He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends. |
| 10Rebuke is more effective for a wise man Than a hundred blows on a fool. | 10A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool. |
| 11An evil man seeks only rebellion; Therefore a cruel messenger will be sent against him. | 11An evil man seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him. |
| 12Let a man meet a bear robbed of her cubs, Rather than a fool in his folly. | 12Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly. |
| 13Whoever rewards evil for good, Evil will not depart from his house. | 13Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house. |
| 14The beginning of strife is like releasing water; Therefore stop contention before a quarrel starts. | 14The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with. |
| 15He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the just, Both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD. | 15He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD. |
| 16Why is there in the hand of a fool the purchase price of wisdom, Since he has no heart for it? | 16Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it? |
| 17A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity. | 17A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. |
| 18A man devoid of understanding shakes hands in a pledge, And becomes surety for his friend. | 18A man void of understanding striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his friend. |
| 19He who loves transgression loves strife, And he who exalts his gate seeks destruction. | 19He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction. |
| 20He who has a deceitful heart finds no good, And he who has a perverse tongue falls into evil. | 20He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief. |
| 21He who begets a scoffer does so to his sorrow, And the father of a fool has no joy. | 21He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy. |
| 22A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones. | 22A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones. |
| 23A wicked man accepts a bribe behind the back To pervert the ways of justice. | 23A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment. |
| 24Wisdom is in the sight of him who has understanding, But the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth. | 24Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth. |
| 25A foolish son is a grief to his father, And bitterness to her who bore him. | 25A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him. |
| 26Also, to punish the righteous is not good, Nor to strike princes for their uprightness. | 26Also to punish the just is not good, nor to strike princes for equity. |
| 27He who has knowledge spares his words, And a man of understanding is of a calm spirit. | 27He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit. |
| 28Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; When he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive. | 28Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding. |
| The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. | King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com. |
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