| New King James Version | NET Bible |
| 1Better is a dry morsel with quietness, Than a house full of feasting with strife. | 1Better is a dry crust of bread where there is quietness than a house full of feasting with strife. |
| 2A wise servant will rule over a son who causes shame, And will share an inheritance among the brothers. | 2A servant who acts wisely will rule over an heir who behaves shamefully, and will share the inheritance along with the relatives. |
| 3The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, But the LORD tests the hearts. | 3The crucible is for refining silver and the furnace is for gold, likewise the LORD tests hearts. |
| 4An evildoer gives heed to false lips; A liar listens eagerly to a spiteful tongue. | 4One who acts wickedly pays attention to evil counsel; a liar listens to a malicious tongue. |
| 5He who mocks the poor reproaches his Maker; He who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished. | 5The one who mocks the poor insults his Creator; whoever rejoices over disaster will not go unpunished. |
| 6Children’s children are the crown of old men, And the glory of children is their father. | 6Grandchildren are like a crown to the elderly, and the glory of children is their parents. |
| 7Excellent speech is not becoming to a fool, Much less lying lips to a prince. | 7Excessive speech is not becoming for a fool; how much less are lies for a ruler! |
| 8A present is a precious stone in the eyes of its possessor; Wherever he turns, he prospers. | 8A bribe works like a charm for the one who offers it; in whatever he does he succeeds. |
| 9He who covers a transgression seeks love, But he who repeats a matter separates friends. | 9The one who forgives an offense seeks love, but whoever repeats a matter separates close friends. |
| 10Rebuke is more effective for a wise man Than a hundred blows on a fool. | 10A rebuke makes a greater impression on a discerning person than a hundred blows on a fool. |
| 11An evil man seeks only rebellion; Therefore a cruel messenger will be sent against him. | 11An evil person seeks only rebellion, and so a cruel messenger will be sent against him. |
| 12Let a man meet a bear robbed of her cubs, Rather than a fool in his folly. | 12It is better for a person to meet a mother bear being robbed of her cubs, than to encounter a fool in his folly. |
| 13Whoever rewards evil for good, Evil will not depart from his house. | 13As for the one who repays evil for good, evil will not leave his house. |
| 14The beginning of strife is like releasing water; Therefore stop contention before a quarrel starts. | 14Starting a quarrel is like letting out water; stop it before strife breaks out! |
| 15He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the just, Both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD. | 15The one who acquits the guilty and the one who condemns the innocent--both of them are an abomination to the LORD. |
| 16Why is there in the hand of a fool the purchase price of wisdom, Since he has no heart for it? | 16Of what use is money in the hand of a fool, since he has no intention of acquiring wisdom? |
| 17A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity. | 17A friend loves at all times, and a relative is born to help in adversity. |
| 18A man devoid of understanding shakes hands in a pledge, And becomes surety for his friend. | 18The one who lacks wisdom strikes hands in pledge, and puts up financial security for his neighbor. |
| 19He who loves transgression loves strife, And he who exalts his gate seeks destruction. | 19The one who loves a quarrel loves transgression; whoever builds his gate high seeks destruction. |
| 20He who has a deceitful heart finds no good, And he who has a perverse tongue falls into evil. | 20The one who has a perverse heart does not find good, and the one who is deceitful in speech falls into trouble. |
| 21He who begets a scoffer does so to his sorrow, And the father of a fool has no joy. | 21Whoever brings a fool into the world does so to his grief, and the father of a fool has no joy. |
| 22A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones. | 22A cheerful heart brings good healing, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. |
| 23A wicked man accepts a bribe behind the back To pervert the ways of justice. | 23A wicked person receives a bribe secretly to pervert the ways of justice. |
| 24Wisdom is in the sight of him who has understanding, But the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth. | 24Wisdom is directly in front of the discerning person, but the eyes of a fool run to the ends of the earth. |
| 25A foolish son is a grief to his father, And bitterness to her who bore him. | 25A foolish child is a grief to his father, and bitterness to the mother who bore him. |
| 26Also, to punish the righteous is not good, Nor to strike princes for their uprightness. | 26It is terrible to punish a righteous person, and to flog honorable men is wrong. |
| 27He who has knowledge spares his words, And a man of understanding is of a calm spirit. | 27The truly wise person restrains his words, and the one who stays calm is discerning. |
| 28Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; When he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive. | 28Even a fool who remains silent is considered wise, and the one who holds his tongue is deemed discerning. |
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