New King James Version

English Standard Version

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

1Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it 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.

2The terror of a king is like the growling of a lion; whoever provokes him to anger forfeits his life.

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

3It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarreling.

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

4The sluggard does not plow in the autumn; he will seek at harvest and have nothing.

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

5The purpose in a man’s heart is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out.

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

6Many a man proclaims his own steadfast love, but a faithful man who can find?

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

7The righteous who walks in his integrity— blessed are his children after him!

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

8A king who sits on the throne of judgment winnows 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 made my heart pure; I am clean from my sin”?

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

10Unequal weights and unequal measures are both alike an abomination to the LORD.

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

11Even a child makes himself known by his acts, by whether his conduct 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 has made them both.

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

13Love not sleep, lest you come to poverty; open your eyes, and you will have plenty of bread.

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

14“Bad, bad,” says the buyer, but when he goes away, then he boasts.

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

15There is gold and abundance of costly stones, but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.

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

16Take a man’s garment when he has put up security for a stranger, and hold it in pledge when he puts up security for foreigners.

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

17Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man, but afterward his mouth will be full of gravel.

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

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

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

19Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with a simple babbler.

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

20If one curses his father or his mother, his lamp will be put out in utter darkness.

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

21An inheritance gained hastily in the beginning will not be blessed in the end.

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

22Do not say, “I will repay evil”; wait for the LORD, and he will deliver you.

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

23Unequal weights are an abomination to the LORD, and false scales are not good.

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

24A man’s steps are from the LORD; how then can man understand his way?

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

25It is a snare to say rashly, “It is holy,” and to reflect only after making vows.

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

26A wise king winnows the wicked and drives the wheel over them.

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

27The spirit of man is the lamp of the LORD, searching all his innermost parts.

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

28Steadfast love and faithfulness preserve the king, and by steadfast love his throne is upheld.

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, but the splendor of old men is their gray hair.

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

30Blows that wound cleanse away evil; strokes make clean the innermost parts.

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

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.