| Holman Christian Standard Bible | International Standard Version |
| 1A king's heart is like streams of water in the LORD's hand: He directs it wherever He chooses. | 1A king's heart is a water stream that the LORD controls; he directs it wherever he pleases. |
| 2All a man's ways seem right to him, but the LORD evaluates the motives. | 2Every man's lifestyle is proper in his own view, but the LORD weighs the heart. |
| 3Doing what is righteous and just is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice. | 3To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice. |
| 4The lamp that guides the wicked-- haughty eyes and an arrogant heart--is sin. | 4A proud attitude, accompanied by a haughty look, is sin; they reveal wicked people. |
| 5The plans of the diligent certainly lead to profit, but anyone who is reckless certainly becomes poor. | 5Plans of the persistent surely lead to productivity, but all who are hasty will surely become poor. |
| 6Making a fortune through a lying tongue is a vanishing mist, a pursuit of death. | 6A fortune gained by deceit is a fleeting vapor and a deadly snare. |
| 7The violence of the wicked sweeps them away because they refuse to act justly. | 7Devastation caused by the wicked will drag them away because they refuse to do what is just. |
| 8A guilty man's conduct is crooked, but the behavior of the innocent is upright. | 8The conduct of a guilty man is perverse, but the behavior of the pure is upright. |
| 9Better to live on the corner of a roof than to share a house with a nagging wife. | 9It's better to live in a corner on the roof than to share a house with a contentious woman. |
| 10A wicked person desires evil; he has no consideration for his neighbor. | 10The soul of the wicked craves evil; he extends no mercy to his neighbor. |
| 11When a mocker is punished, the inexperienced become wiser; when one teaches a wise man, he acquires knowledge. | 11When a mocker is punished, the fool gains wisdom; but when the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge. |
| 12The Righteous One considers the house of the wicked; He brings the wicked to ruin. | 12The righteous God considers the house of the wicked, bringing the wicked to ruin. |
| 13The one who shuts his ears to the cry of the poor will himself also call out and not be answered. | 13Whoever refuses to hear the cry of the poor will also cry himself, but he won't be answered. |
| 14A secret gift soothes anger, and a covert bribe, fierce rage. | 14Privately given gifts pacify wrath, and payments made secretly appease great anger. |
| 15Justice executed is a joy to the righteous but a terror to those who practice iniquity. | 15Administering justice brings joy to the righteous, but terror to those who practice iniquity. |
| 16The man who strays from the way of wisdom will come to rest in the assembly of the departed spirits. | 16Whoever wanders from the path of understanding will end up where the dead are gathered. |
| 17The one who loves pleasure will become a poor man; whoever loves wine and oil will not get rich. | 17Pleasure lovers become poor; loving wine and oil doesn't bring riches. |
| 18The wicked are a ransom for the righteous, and the treacherous, for the upright. | 18The wicked are ransom for the righteous, and the unfaithful for the upright. |
| 19Better to live in a wilderness than with a nagging and hot-tempered wife. | 19It's better to live in the wilderness than to live with a contentious and irritable woman. |
| 20Precious treasure and oil are in the dwelling of a wise person, but a foolish man consumes them. | 20Precious treasures and oil are found where the wise live, but a foolish man devours them. |
| 21The one who pursues righteousness and faithful love will find life, righteousness, and honor. | 21Whoever pursues righteousness and gracious love finds life, righteousness, and honor. |
| 22A wise person went up against a city of warriors and brought down its secure fortress. | 22A wise man attacks the city of the mighty, bringing down the fortress in which they trust. |
| 23The one who guards his mouth and tongue keeps himself out of trouble. | 23Whoever watches his mouth and tongue keeps himself from trouble. |
| 24The proud and arrogant person, named "Mocker," acts with excessive pride. | 24The names "Proud," "Arrogant," and "Mocker" fit whoever acts with presumptuous conceit. |
| 25A slacker's craving will kill him because his hands refuse to work. | 25What the lazy person craves will kill him, because his hands refuse to work. |
| 26He is filled with craving all day long, but the righteous give and don't hold back. | 26All day long he continues to crave, while the righteous person gives without holding back. |
| 27The sacrifice of a wicked person is detestable-- how much more so when he brings it with ulterior motives! | 27What the wicked person sacrifices is detestable— how much more when he offers it with vile motives! |
| 28A lying witness will perish, but the one who listens will speak successfully. | 28A false witness will perish, but whoever listens will testify successfully. |
| 29A wicked man puts on a bold face, but the upright man considers his way. | 29The wicked man puts up a bold appearance, but the upright thinks about what he is doing. |
| 30No wisdom, no understanding, and no counsel will prevail against the LORD. | 30No wisdom, insight, or counsel can prevail against the LORD. |
| 31A horse is prepared for the day of battle, but victory comes from the LORD. | 31The horse may be prepared for the day of battle, but to the LORD goes the victory. |
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