Holman Christian Standard Bible

New American Standard Bible 1995

1A king's heart is like streams of water in the LORD's hand: He directs it wherever He chooses.

1The king's heart is like channels of water in the hand of the LORD; He turns it wherever He wishes.

2All a man's ways seem right to him, but the LORD evaluates the motives.

2Every man's way is right in his own eyes, But the LORD weighs the hearts.

3Doing what is righteous and just is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.

3To do righteousness and justice Is desired by the LORD more than sacrifice.

4The lamp that guides the wicked-- haughty eyes and an arrogant heart--is sin.

4Haughty eyes and a proud heart, The lamp of the wicked, is sin.

5The plans of the diligent certainly lead to profit, but anyone who is reckless certainly becomes poor.

5The plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage, But everyone who is hasty comes surely to poverty.

6Making a fortune through a lying tongue is a vanishing mist, a pursuit of death.

6The acquisition of treasures by a lying tongue Is a fleeting vapor, the pursuit of death.

7The violence of the wicked sweeps them away because they refuse to act justly.

7The violence of the wicked will drag them away, Because they refuse to act with justice.

8A guilty man's conduct is crooked, but the behavior of the innocent is upright.

8The way of a guilty man is crooked, But as for the pure, his conduct is upright.

9Better to live on the corner of a roof than to share a house with a nagging wife.

9It is better to live in a corner of a roof Than in a house shared with a contentious woman.

10A wicked person desires evil; he has no consideration for his neighbor.

10The soul of the wicked desires evil; His neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.

11When a mocker is punished, the inexperienced become wiser; when one teaches a wise man, he acquires knowledge.

11When the scoffer is punished, the naive becomes wise; 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 one considers the house of the wicked, Turning 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.

13He who shuts his ear to the cry of the poor Will also cry himself and not be answered.

14A secret gift soothes anger, and a covert bribe, fierce rage.

14A gift in secret subdues anger, And a bribe in the bosom, strong wrath.

15Justice executed is a joy to the righteous but a terror to those who practice iniquity.

15The exercise of justice is joy for the righteous, But is terror to the workers of iniquity.

16The man who strays from the way of wisdom will come to rest in the assembly of the departed spirits.

16A man who wanders from the way of understanding Will rest in the assembly of the dead.

17The one who loves pleasure will become a poor man; whoever loves wine and oil will not get rich.

17He who loves pleasure will become a poor man; He who loves wine and oil will not become rich.

18The wicked are a ransom for the righteous, and the treacherous, for the upright.

18The wicked is a ransom for the righteous, And the treacherous is in the place of the upright.

19Better to live in a wilderness than with a nagging and hot-tempered wife.

19It is better to live in a desert land Than with a contentious and vexing woman.

20Precious treasure and oil are in the dwelling of a wise person, but a foolish man consumes them.

20There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise, But a foolish man swallows it up.

21The one who pursues righteousness and faithful love will find life, righteousness, and honor.

21He who pursues righteousness and loyalty Finds life, righteousness and honor.

22A wise person went up against a city of warriors and brought down its secure fortress.

22A wise man scales the city of the mighty And brings down the stronghold in which they trust.

23The one who guards his mouth and tongue keeps himself out of trouble.

23He who guards his mouth and his tongue, Guards his soul from troubles.

24The proud and arrogant person, named "Mocker," acts with excessive pride.

24"Proud," "Haughty," "Scoffer," are his names, Who acts with insolent pride.

25A slacker's craving will kill him because his hands refuse to work.

25The desire of the sluggard puts him to death, For 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 is craving, While the righteous gives and does not hold back.

27The sacrifice of a wicked person is detestable-- how much more so when he brings it with ulterior motives!

27The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination, How much more when he brings it with evil intent!

28A lying witness will perish, but the one who listens will speak successfully.

28A false witness will perish, But the man who listens to the truth will speak forever.

29A wicked man puts on a bold face, but the upright man considers his way.

29A wicked man displays a bold face, But as for the upright, he makes his way sure.

30No wisdom, no understanding, and no counsel will prevail against the LORD.

30There is no wisdom and no understanding And no counsel against the LORD.

31A horse is prepared for the day of battle, but victory comes from the LORD.

31The horse is prepared for the day of battle, But victory belongs to the LORD.

Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org