| King James Bible | NET Bible |
| 1A false balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight. | 1The LORD abhors dishonest scales, but an accurate weight is his delight. |
| 2When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom. | 2When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. |
| 3The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them. | 3The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the unfaithful destroys them. |
| 4Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death. | 4Wealth does not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from mortal danger. |
| 5The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness. | 5The righteousness of the blameless will make straight their way, but the wicked person will fall by his own wickedness. |
| 6The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: but transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness. | 6The righteousness of the upright will deliver them, but the faithless will be captured by their own desires. |
| 7When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish: and the hope of unjust men perisheth. | 7When a wicked person dies, his expectation perishes, and the hope of his strength perishes. |
| 8The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead. | 8The righteous person is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked turns up in his stead. |
| 9An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered. | 9With his speech the godless person destroys his neighbor, but by knowledge the righteous will be delivered. |
| 10When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth: and when the wicked perish, there is shouting. | 10When the righteous do well, the city rejoices; when the wicked perish, there is joy. |
| 11By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked. | 11A city is exalted by the blessing provided from the upright, but it is destroyed by the counsel of the wicked. |
| 12He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour: but a man of understanding holdeth his peace. | 12The one who denounces his neighbor lacks wisdom, but the one who has discernment keeps silent. |
| 13A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter. | 13The one who goes about slandering others reveals secrets, but the one who is trustworthy conceals a matter. |
| 14Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellers there is safety. | 14When there is no guidance a nation falls, but there is success in the abundance of counselors. |
| 15He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it: and he that hateth suretiship is sure. | 15The one who puts up security for a stranger will surely have trouble, but whoever avoids shaking hands will be secure. |
| 16A gracious woman retaineth honour: and strong men retain riches. | 16A generous woman gains honor, and ruthless men seize wealth. |
| 17The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh. | 17A kind person benefits himself, but a cruel person brings himself trouble. |
| 18The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward. | 18The wicked person earns deceitful wages, but the one who sows righteousness reaps a genuine reward. |
| 19As righteousness tendeth to life: so he that pursueth evil pursueth it to his own death. | 19True righteousness leads to life, but the one who pursues evil pursues it to his own death. |
| 20They that are of a froward heart are abomination to the LORD: but such as are upright in their way are his delight. | 20The LORD abhors those who are perverse in heart, but those who are blameless in their ways are his delight. |
| 21Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered. | 21Be assured that the evil person will certainly be punished, but the descendants of the righteous will not suffer unjust judgment. |
| 22As a jewel of gold in a swine's snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion. | 22Like a gold ring in a pig's snout is a beautiful woman who rejects discretion. |
| 23The desire of the righteous is only good: but the expectation of the wicked is wrath. | 23What the righteous desire leads only to good, but what the wicked hope for leads to wrath. |
| 24There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty. | 24One person is generous and yet grows more wealthy, but another withholds more than he should and comes to poverty. |
| 25The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself. | 25A generous person will be enriched, and the one who provides water for others will himself be satisfied. |
| 26He that withholdeth corn, the people shall curse him: but blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it. | 26People will curse the one who withholds grain, but they will praise the one who sells it. |
| 27He that diligently seeketh good procureth favour: but he that seeketh mischief, it shall come unto him. | 27The one who diligently seeks good seeks favor, but the one who searches for evil--it will come to him. |
| 28He that trusteth in his riches shall fall: but the righteous shall flourish as a branch. | 28The one who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf. |
| 29He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind: and the fool shall be servant to the wise of heart. | 29The one who troubles his family will inherit nothing, and the fool will be a servant to the wise person. |
| 30The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise. | 30The fruit of the righteous is like a tree producing life, and the one who wins souls is wise. |
| 31Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth: much more the wicked and the sinner. | 31If the righteous are recompensed on earth, how much more the wicked sinner! |
|
