New King James Version

King James Bible

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 is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby 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 fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.

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

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

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

4The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.

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

5Counsel in the heart of man 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?

6Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?

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

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

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

8A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment scattereth away 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 clean, I am pure from my sin?

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

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

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

11Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.

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

12The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them.

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

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

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

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

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

15There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: 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 his garment that is surety for a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

24Man's goings are of the LORD; how can a man then 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 snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after vows to make inquiry.

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

26A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth 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 candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.

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

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

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 beauty of old men is the gray head.

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

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

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

King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.