King James Bible

New Living Translation

1Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.

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

2The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.

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

3It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.

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

4The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in 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 every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?

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

7The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.

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

8A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment scattereth away 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”?

10Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the LORD.

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

11Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be 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 hath made even both of them.

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

13Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.

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

14It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.

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 his garment that is surety for a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.

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

17Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.

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

18Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.

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

19He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.

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

20Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.

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

21An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.

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

22Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.

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

23Divers weights are an abomination unto the LORD; and a false balance is not good.

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

24Man's goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way?

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

25It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after vows to make inquiry.

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

26A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them.

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

27The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.

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

28Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy.

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

29The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the gray head.

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

30The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly.

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

King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.

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.