New King James Version

New Living Translation

1Wine is a mocker, Strong drink is a brawler, And whoever is led astray by it is not wise.

1Wine produces mockers; alcohol leads to brawls. Those led astray by drink cannot be wise.

2The wrath of a king is like the roaring of a lion; Whoever provokes him to anger sins against his own life.

2The king’s fury is like a lion’s roar; to rouse his anger is to risk your life.

3It is honorable for a man to stop striving, Since any fool can start a quarrel.

3Avoiding a fight is a mark of honor; only fools insist on quarreling.

4The lazy man will not plow because of winter; He will beg during harvest and have nothing.

4Those too lazy to plow in the right season will have no food at the harvest.

5Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water, But a man of understanding will draw it out.

5Though good advice lies deep within the heart, a person with understanding will draw it out.

6Most men will proclaim each his own goodness, But who can find a faithful man?

6Many will say they are loyal friends, but who can find one who is truly reliable?

7The righteous man walks in his integrity; His children are blessed after him.

7The godly walk with integrity; blessed are their children who follow them.

8A king who sits on the throne of judgment Scatters all evil with his eyes.

8When a king sits in judgment, he weighs all the evidence, distinguishing the bad from the good.

9Who can say, “I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin”?

9Who can say, “I have cleansed my heart; I am pure and free from sin”?

10Diverse weights and diverse measures, They are both alike, an abomination to the LORD.

10False weights and unequal measures — the LORD detests double standards of every kind.

11Even a child is known by his deeds, Whether what he does is pure and right.

11Even children are known by the way they act, whether their conduct is pure, and whether it is right.

12The hearing ear and the seeing eye, The LORD has made them both.

12Ears to hear and eyes to see— both are gifts from the LORD.

13Do not love sleep, lest you come to poverty; Open your eyes, and you will be satisfied with bread.

13If you love sleep, you will end in poverty. Keep your eyes open, and there will be plenty to eat!

14“It is good for nothing,” cries the buyer; But when he has gone his way, then he boasts.

14The buyer haggles over the price, saying, “It’s worthless,” then brags about getting a bargain!

15There is gold and a multitude of rubies, But the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.

15Wise words are more valuable than much gold and many rubies.

16Take the garment of one who is surety for a stranger, And hold it as a pledge when it is for a seductress.

16Get security from someone who guarantees a stranger’s debt. Get a deposit if he does it for foreigners.

17Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man, But afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel.

17Stolen bread tastes sweet, but it turns to gravel in the mouth.

18Plans are established by counsel; By wise counsel wage war.

18Plans succeed through good counsel; don’t go to war without wise advice.

19He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets; Therefore do not associate with one who flatters with his lips.

19A gossip goes around telling secrets, so don’t hang around with chatterers.

20Whoever curses his father or his mother, His lamp will be put out in deep darkness.

20If you insult your father or mother, your light will be snuffed out in total darkness.

21An inheritance gained hastily at the beginning Will not be blessed at the end.

21An inheritance obtained too early in life is not a blessing in the end.

22Do not say, “I will recompense evil”; Wait for the LORD, and He will save you.

22Don’t say, “I will get even for this wrong.” Wait for the LORD to handle the matter.

23Diverse weights are an abomination to the LORD, And dishonest scales are not good.

23The LORD detests double standards; he is not pleased by dishonest scales.

24A man’s steps are of the LORD; How then can a man understand his own way?

24The LORD directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way?

25It is a snare for a man to devote rashly something as holy, And afterward to reconsider his vows.

25Don’t trap yourself by making a rash promise to God and only later counting the cost.

26A wise king sifts out the wicked, And brings the threshing wheel over them.

26A wise king scatters the wicked like wheat, then runs his threshing wheel over them.

27The spirit of a man is the lamp of the LORD, Searching all the inner depths of his heart.

27The LORD’s light penetrates the human spirit, exposing every hidden motive.

28Mercy and truth preserve the king, And by lovingkindness he upholds his throne.

28Unfailing love and faithfulness protect the king; his throne is made secure through love.

29The glory of young men is their strength, And the splendor of old men is their gray head.

29The glory of the young is their strength; the gray hair of experience is the splendor of the old.

30Blows that hurt cleanse away evil, As do stripes the inner depths of the heart.

30Physical punishment cleanses away evil; such discipline purifies the heart.

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

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.