| New King James Version | King James Bible |
| 1These also are proverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied: | 1These are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out. |
| 2It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, But the glory of kings is to search out a matter. | 2It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter. |
| 3As the heavens for height and the earth for depth, So the heart of kings is unsearchable. | 3The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable. |
| 4Take away the dross from silver, And it will go to the silversmith for jewelry. | 4Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer. |
| 5Take away the wicked from before the king, And his throne will be established in righteousness. | 5Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness. |
| 6Do not exalt yourself in the presence of the king, And do not stand in the place of the great; | 6Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men: |
| 7For it is better that he say to you, “Come up here,” Than that you should be put lower in the presence of the prince, Whom your eyes have seen. | 7For better it is that it be said unto thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes have seen. |
| 8Do not go hastily to court; For what will you do in the end, When your neighbor has put you to shame? | 8Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame. |
| 9Debate your case with your neighbor, And do not disclose the secret to another; | 9Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another: |
| 10Lest he who hears it expose your shame, And your reputation be ruined. | 10Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not away. |
| 11A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold In settings of silver. | 11A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver. |
| 12Like an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold Is a wise rebuker to an obedient ear. | 12As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear. |
| 13Like the cold of snow in time of harvest Is a faithful messenger to those who send him, For he refreshes the soul of his masters. | 13As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters. |
| 14Whoever falsely boasts of giving Is like clouds and wind without rain. | 14Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain. |
| 15By long forbearance a ruler is persuaded, And a gentle tongue breaks a bone. | 15By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone. |
| 16Have you found honey? Eat only as much as you need, Lest you be filled with it and vomit. | 16Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it. |
| 17Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s house, Lest he become weary of you and hate you. | 17Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour's house; lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee. |
| 18A man who bears false witness against his neighbor Is like a club, a sword, and a sharp arrow. | 18A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow. |
| 19Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble Is like a bad tooth and a foot out of joint. | 19Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint. |
| 20Like one who takes away a garment in cold weather, And like vinegar on soda, Is one who sings songs to a heavy heart. | 20As he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to an heavy heart. |
| 21If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; | 21If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: |
| 22For so you will heap coals of fire on his head, And the LORD will reward you. | 22For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee. |
| 23The north wind brings forth rain, And a backbiting tongue an angry countenance. | 23The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue. |
| 24It is better to dwell in a corner of a housetop, Than in a house shared with a contentious woman. | 24It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house. |
| 25As cold water to a weary soul, So is good news from a far country. | 25As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country. |
| 26A righteous man who falters before the wicked Is like a murky spring and a polluted well. | 26A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring. |
| 27It is not good to eat much honey; So to seek one’s own glory is not glory. | 27It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory. |
| 28Whoever has no rule over his own spirit Is like a city broken down, without walls. | 28He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls. |
| The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. | King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com. |
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