| New King James Version | King James Bible |
| 1A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire; He rages against all wise judgment. | 1Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom. |
| 2A fool has no delight in understanding, But in expressing his own heart. | 2A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself. |
| 3When the wicked comes, contempt comes also; And with dishonor comes reproach. | 3When the wicked cometh, then cometh also contempt, and with ignominy reproach. |
| 4The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters; The wellspring of wisdom is a flowing brook. | 4The words of a man's mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook. |
| 5It is not good to show partiality to the wicked, Or to overthrow the righteous in judgment. | 5It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment. |
| 6A fool’s lips enter into contention, And his mouth calls for blows. | 6A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes. |
| 7A fool’s mouth is his destruction, And his lips are the snare of his soul. | 7A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul. |
| 8The words of a talebearer are like tasty trifles, And they go down into the inmost body. | 8The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly. |
| 9He who is slothful in his work Is a brother to him who is a great destroyer. | 9He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster. |
| 10The name of the LORD is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe. | 10The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe. |
| 11The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, And like a high wall in his own esteem. | 11The rich man's wealth is his strong city, and as an high wall in his own conceit. |
| 12Before destruction the heart of a man is haughty, And before honor is humility. | 12Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility. |
| 13He who answers a matter before he hears it, It is folly and shame to him. | 13He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him. |
| 14The spirit of a man will sustain him in sickness, But who can bear a broken spirit? | 14The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear? |
| 15The heart of the prudent acquires knowledge, And the ear of the wise seeks knowledge. | 15The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge. |
| 16A man’s gift makes room for him, And brings him before great men. | 16A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men. |
| 17The first one to plead his cause seems right, Until his neighbor comes and examines him. | 17He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him. |
| 18Casting lots causes contentions to cease, And keeps the mighty apart. | 18The lot causeth contentions to cease, and parteth between the mighty. |
| 19A brother offended is harder to win than a strong city, And contentions are like the bars of a castle. | 19A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle. |
| 20A man’s stomach shall be satisfied from the fruit of his mouth; From the produce of his lips he shall be filled. | 20A man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled. |
| 21Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit. | 21Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. |
| 22He who finds a wife finds a good thing, And obtains favor from the LORD. | 22Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD. |
| 23The poor man uses entreaties, But the rich answers roughly. | 23The poor useth intreaties; but the rich answereth roughly. |
| 24A man who has friends must himself be friendly, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. | 24A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. |
| The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. | King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com. |
|
    |