New King James Version

Christian Standard Bible

1Wine is a mocker, Strong drink is a brawler, And whoever is led astray by it is not wise.

1Wine is a mocker, beer is a brawler; whoever goes astray because of them is not wise.

2The wrath of a king is like the roaring of a lion; Whoever provokes him to anger sins against his own life.

2A king's terrible wrath is like the roaring of a lion; anyone who provokes him endangers himself.

3It is honorable for a man to stop striving, Since any fool can start a quarrel.

3Honor belongs to the person who ends a dispute, but any fool can get himself into a quarrel.

4The lazy man will not plow because of winter; He will beg during harvest and have nothing.

4The slacker does not plow during planting season; at harvest time he looks, and there is nothing.

5Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water, But a man of understanding will draw it out.

5Counsel in a person's heart is deep water; but a person of understanding draws it out.

6Most men will proclaim each his own goodness, But who can find a faithful man?

6Many a person proclaims his own loyalty, but who can find a trustworthy person?

7The righteous man walks in his integrity; His children are blessed after him.

7A righteous person acts with integrity; his children who come after him will be happy.

8A king who sits on the throne of judgment Scatters all evil with his eyes.

8A king sitting on a throne to judge separates 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 cleansed from my sin"?

10Diverse weights and diverse measures, They are both alike, an abomination to the LORD.

10Differing weights and varying measures--both are detestable to the LORD.

11Even a child is known by his deeds, Whether what he does is pure and right.

11Even a young man is known by his actions--by whether his behavior is pure and upright.

12The hearing ear and the seeing eye, The LORD has made them both.

12The hearing ear and the seeing eye--the LORD made them both.

13Do not love sleep, lest you come to poverty; Open your eyes, and you will be satisfied with bread.

13Don't love sleep, or you will become poor; open your eyes, and you'll have enough to eat.

14“It is good for nothing,” cries the buyer; But when he has gone his way, then he boasts.

14"It's worthless, it's worthless!" the buyer says, but after he is on his way, he gloats.

15There is gold and a multitude of rubies, But the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.

15There is gold and a multitude of jewels, but knowledgeable lips are a rare treasure.

16Take the garment of one who is surety for a stranger, And hold it as a pledge when it is for a seductress.

16Take his garment, for he has put up security for a stranger; get collateral if it is for foreigners.

17Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man, But afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel.

17Food gained by fraud is sweet to a person, but afterward his mouth is full of gravel.

18Plans are established by counsel; By wise counsel wage war.

18Finalize plans with counsel, and wage war with sound guidance.

19He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets; Therefore do not associate with one who flatters with his lips.

19The one who reveals secrets is a constant gossip; avoid someone with a big mouth.

20Whoever curses his father or his mother, His lamp will be put out in deep darkness.

20Whoever curses his father or mother-- his lamp will go out in deep darkness.

21An inheritance gained hastily at the beginning Will not be blessed at the end.

21An inheritance gained prematurely will not be blessed ultimately.

22Do not say, “I will recompense evil”; Wait for the LORD, and He will save you.

22Don't say, "I will avenge this evil!" Wait on the LORD, and he will rescue you.

23Diverse weights are an abomination to the LORD, And dishonest scales are not good.

23Differing weights are detestable to the LORD, and dishonest scales are unfair.

24A man’s steps are of the LORD; How then can a man understand his own way?

24Even a courageous person's steps are determined by the LORD, so how can anyone understand his own way?

25It is a snare for a man to devote rashly something as holy, And afterward to reconsider his vows.

25It is a trap for anyone to dedicate something rashly and later to reconsider his vows.

26A wise king sifts out the wicked, And brings the threshing wheel over them.

26A wise king separates out the wicked and drives the threshing wheel over them.

27The spirit of a man is the lamp of the LORD, Searching all the inner depths of his heart.

27The LORD's lamp sheds light on a person's life, searching the innermost parts.

28Mercy and truth preserve the king, And by lovingkindness he upholds his throne.

28Loyalty and faithfulness guard a king; through loyalty he maintains his throne.

29The glory of young men is their strength, And the splendor of old men is their gray head.

29The glory of young men is their strength, and the splendor of old men is gray hair.

30Blows that hurt cleanse away evil, As do stripes the inner depths of the heart.

30Lashes and wounds purge away evil, and beatings cleanse the innermost parts.

The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.