| New King James Version | New Living Translation |
| 1Better is a dry morsel with quietness, Than a house full of feasting with strife. | 1Better a dry crust eaten in peace than a house filled with feasting—and conflict. |
| 2A wise servant will rule over a son who causes shame, And will share an inheritance among the brothers. | 2A wise servant will rule over the master’s disgraceful son and will share the inheritance of the master’s children. |
| 3The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, But the LORD tests the hearts. | 3Fire tests the purity of silver and gold, but the LORD tests the heart. |
| 4An evildoer gives heed to false lips; A liar listens eagerly to a spiteful tongue. | 4Wrongdoers eagerly listen to gossip; liars pay close attention to slander. |
| 5He who mocks the poor reproaches his Maker; He who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished. | 5Those who mock the poor insult their Maker; those who rejoice at the misfortune of others will be punished. |
| 6Children’s children are the crown of old men, And the glory of children is their father. | 6Grandchildren are the crowning glory of the aged; parents are the pride of their children. |
| 7Excellent speech is not becoming to a fool, Much less lying lips to a prince. | 7Eloquent words are not fitting for a fool; even less are lies fitting for a ruler. |
| 8A present is a precious stone in the eyes of its possessor; Wherever he turns, he prospers. | 8A bribe is like a lucky charm; whoever gives one will prosper! |
| 9He who covers a transgression seeks love, But he who repeats a matter separates friends. | 9Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends. |
| 10Rebuke is more effective for a wise man Than a hundred blows on a fool. | 10A single rebuke does more for a person of understanding than a hundred lashes on the back of a fool. |
| 11An evil man seeks only rebellion; Therefore a cruel messenger will be sent against him. | 11Evil people are eager for rebellion, but they will be severely punished. |
| 12Let a man meet a bear robbed of her cubs, Rather than a fool in his folly. | 12It is safer to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than to confront a fool caught in foolishness. |
| 13Whoever rewards evil for good, Evil will not depart from his house. | 13If you repay good with evil, evil will never leave your house. |
| 14The beginning of strife is like releasing water; Therefore stop contention before a quarrel starts. | 14Starting a quarrel is like opening a floodgate, so stop before a dispute breaks out. |
| 15He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the just, Both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD. | 15Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent— both are detestable to the LORD. |
| 16Why is there in the hand of a fool the purchase price of wisdom, Since he has no heart for it? | 16It is senseless to pay to educate a fool, since he has no heart for learning. |
| 17A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity. | 17A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need. |
| 18A man devoid of understanding shakes hands in a pledge, And becomes surety for his friend. | 18It’s poor judgment to guarantee another person’s debt or put up security for a friend. |
| 19He who loves transgression loves strife, And he who exalts his gate seeks destruction. | 19Anyone who loves to quarrel loves sin; anyone who trusts in high walls invites disaster. |
| 20He who has a deceitful heart finds no good, And he who has a perverse tongue falls into evil. | 20The crooked heart will not prosper; the lying tongue tumbles into trouble. |
| 21He who begets a scoffer does so to his sorrow, And the father of a fool has no joy. | 21It is painful to be the parent of a fool; there is no joy for the father of a rebel. |
| 22A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones. | 22A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength. |
| 23A wicked man accepts a bribe behind the back To pervert the ways of justice. | 23The wicked take secret bribes to pervert the course 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. | 24Sensible people keep their eyes glued on wisdom, but a fool’s eyes wander to the ends of the earth. |
| 25A foolish son is a grief to his father, And bitterness to her who bore him. | 25Foolish children bring grief to their father and bitterness to the one who gave them birth. |
| 26Also, to punish the righteous is not good, Nor to strike princes for their uprightness. | 26It is wrong to punish the godly for being good or to flog leaders for being honest. |
| 27He who has knowledge spares his words, And a man of understanding is of a calm spirit. | 27A truly wise person uses few words; a person with understanding is even-tempered. |
| 28Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; When he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive. | 28Even fools are thought wise when they keep silent; with their mouths shut, they seem intelligent. |
| The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. | Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. |
|
    |