| New King James Version | NET Bible |
| 1The preparations of the heart belong to man, But the answer of the tongue is from the LORD. | 1The intentions of the heart belong to a man, but the answer of the tongue comes from the LORD. |
| 2All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, But the LORD weighs the spirits. | 2All a person's ways seem right in his own opinion, but the LORD evaluates the motives. |
| 3Commit your works to the LORD, And your thoughts will be established. | 3Commit your works to the LORD, and your plans will be established. |
| 4The LORD has made all for Himself, Yes, even the wicked for the day of doom. | 4The LORD works everything for its own ends--even the wicked for the day of disaster. |
| 5Everyone proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD; Though they join forces, none will go unpunished. | 5The LORD abhors every arrogant person; rest assured that they will not go unpunished. |
| 6In mercy and truth Atonement is provided for iniquity; And by the fear of the LORD one departs from evil. | 6Through loyal love and truth iniquity is appeased; through fearing the LORD one avoids evil. |
| 7When a man’s ways please the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. | 7When a person's ways are pleasing to the LORD, he even reconciles his enemies to himself. |
| 8Better is a little with righteousness, Than vast revenues without justice. | 8Better to have a little with righteousness than to have abundant income without justice. |
| 9A man’s heart plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps. | 9A person plans his course, but the LORD directs his steps. |
| 10Divination is on the lips of the king; His mouth must not transgress in judgment. | 10The divine verdict is in the words of the king, his pronouncements must not act treacherously against justice. |
| 11Honest weights and scales are the LORD’s; All the weights in the bag are His work. | 11Honest scales and balances are from the LORD; all the weights in the bag are his handiwork. |
| 12It is an abomination for kings to commit wickedness, For a throne is established by righteousness. | 12Doing wickedness is an abomination to kings, because a throne is established in righteousness. |
| 13Righteous lips are the delight of kings, And they love him who speaks what is right. | 13The delight of kings is righteous counsel, and they love the one who speaks uprightly. |
| 14As messengers of death is the king’s wrath, But a wise man will appease it. | 14A king's wrath is like a messenger of death, but a wise person appeases it. |
| 15In the light of the king’s face is life, And his favor is like a cloud of the latter rain. | 15In the light of the king's face there is life, and his favor is like the clouds of the spring rain. |
| 16How much better to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver. | 16How much better it is to acquire wisdom than gold; to acquire understanding is more desirable than silver. |
| 17The highway of the upright is to depart from evil; He who keeps his way preserves his soul. | 17The highway of the upright is to turn away from evil; the one who guards his way safeguards his life. |
| 18Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall. | 18Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. |
| 19Better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, Than to divide the spoil with the proud. | 19It is better to be lowly in spirit with the afflicted than to share the spoils with the proud. |
| 20He who heeds the word wisely will find good, And whoever trusts in the LORD, happy is he. | 20The one who deals wisely in a matter will find success, and blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD. |
| 21The wise in heart will be called prudent, And sweetness of the lips increases learning. | 21The one who is wise in heart is called discerning, and kind speech increases persuasiveness. |
| 22Understanding is a wellspring of life to him who has it. But the correction of fools is folly. | 22Insight is like a life-giving fountain to the one who possesses it, but folly leads to the discipline of fools. |
| 23The heart of the wise teaches his mouth, And adds learning to his lips. | 23A wise person's heart makes his speech wise and it adds persuasiveness to his words. |
| 24Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, Sweetness to the soul and health to the bones. | 24Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. |
| 25There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death. | 25There is a way that seems right to a person, but its end is the way that leads to death. |
| 26The person who labors, labors for himself, For his hungry mouth drives him on. | 26A laborer's appetite works on his behalf, for his hunger urges him to work. |
| 27An ungodly man digs up evil, And it is on his lips like a burning fire. | 27A wicked scoundrel digs up evil, and his slander is like a scorching fire. |
| 28A perverse man sows strife, And a whisperer separates the best of friends. | 28A perverse person spreads dissension, and a gossip separates the closest friends. |
| 29A violent man entices his neighbor, And leads him in a way that is not good. | 29A violent person entices his neighbor, and leads him down a path that is terrible. |
| 30He winks his eye to devise perverse things; He purses his lips and brings about evil. | 30The one who winks his eyes devises perverse things, and one who compresses his lips brings about evil. |
| 31The silver-haired head is a crown of glory, If it is found in the way of righteousness. | 31Gray hair is like a crown of glory; it is attained in the path of righteousness. |
| 32He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city. | 32Better to be slow to anger than to be a mighty warrior, and one who controls his temper is better than one who captures a city. |
| 33The lot is cast into the lap, But its every decision is from the LORD. | 33The dice are thrown into the lap, but their every decision is from the LORD. |
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