| King James Bible | New International Version |
| 1Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. | 1Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise. |
| 2The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul. | 2A king's wrath strikes terror like the roar of a lion; those who anger him forfeit their lives. |
| 3It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling. | 3It is to one's honor to avoid strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel. |
| 4The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing. | 4Sluggards do not plow in season; so at harvest time they look but find nothing. |
| 5Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out. | 5The purposes of a person's heart are deep waters, but one who has insight draws them out. |
| 6Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find? | 6Many claim to have unfailing love, but a faithful person who can find? |
| 7The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him. | 7The righteous lead blameless lives; blessed are their children after them. |
| 8A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes. | 8When a king sits on his throne to judge, he winnows out all evil with his eyes. |
| 9Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin? | 9Who can say, "I have kept my heart pure; I am clean and without sin"? |
| 10Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the LORD. | 10Differing weights and differing measures-- the LORD detests them both. |
| 11Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right. | 11Even small children are known by their actions, so is their conduct really pure and upright? |
| 12The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them. | 12Ears that hear and eyes that see-- the LORD has made them both. |
| 13Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread. | 13Do not love sleep or you will grow poor; stay awake and you will have food to spare. |
| 14It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth. | 14"It's no good, it's no good!" says the buyer-- then goes off and boasts about the purchase. |
| 15There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel. | 15Gold there is, and rubies in abundance, but lips that speak knowledge are a rare jewel. |
| 16Take his garment that is surety for a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman. | 16Take the garment of one who puts up security for a stranger; hold it in pledge if it is done for an outsider. |
| 17Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel. | 17Food gained by fraud tastes sweet, but one ends up with a mouth full of gravel. |
| 18Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war. | 18Plans are established by seeking advice; so if you wage war, obtain guidance. |
| 19He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips. | 19A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid anyone who talks too much. |
| 20Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness. | 20If someone curses their father or mother, their lamp will be snuffed out in pitch darkness. |
| 21An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed. | 21An inheritance claimed too soon will not be blessed at the end. |
| 22Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee. | 22Do not say, "I'll pay you back for this wrong!" Wait for the LORD, and he will avenge you. |
| 23Divers weights are an abomination unto the LORD; and a false balance is not good. | 23The LORD detests differing weights, and dishonest scales do not please him. |
| 24Man's goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way? | 24A person's steps are directed by the LORD. How then can anyone understand their own way? |
| 25It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after vows to make inquiry. | 25It is a trap to dedicate something rashly and only later to consider one's vows. |
| 26A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them. | 26A wise king winnows out the wicked; he drives the threshing wheel over them. |
| 27The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly. | 27The human spirit is the lamp of the LORD that sheds light on one's inmost being. |
| 28Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy. | 28Love and faithfulness keep a king safe; through love his throne is made secure. |
| 29The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the gray head. | 29The glory of young men is their strength, gray hair the splendor of the old. |
| 30The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly. | 30Blows and wounds scrub away evil, and beatings purge the inmost being. |
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