| English Standard Version | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise. | 1Wine is a mocker, beer is a brawler, and whoever staggers because of them is not wise. |
| 2The terror of a king is like the growling of a lion; whoever provokes him to anger forfeits his life. | 2A king's terrible wrath is like the roaring of a lion; anyone who provokes him endangers himself. |
| 3It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarreling. | 3It is honorable for a man to resolve a dispute, but any fool can get himself into a quarrel. |
| 4The sluggard does not plow in the autumn; he will seek at harvest and have nothing. | 4The slacker does not plow during planting season; at harvest time he looks, and there is nothing. |
| 5The purpose in a man’s heart is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out. | 5Counsel in a man's heart is deep water; but a man of understanding draws it out. |
| 6Many a man proclaims his own steadfast love, but a faithful man who can find? | 6Many a man proclaims his own loyalty, but who can find a trustworthy man? |
| 7The righteous who walks in his integrity— blessed are his children after him! | 7The one who lives with integrity is righteous; his children who come after him will be happy. |
| 8A king who sits on the throne of judgment winnows all evil with his eyes. | 8A king sitting on a throne to judge sifts out all evil with his eyes. |
| 9Who can say, “I have made my heart pure; I am clean from my sin”? | 9Who can say, "I have kept my heart pure; I am cleansed from my sin"? |
| 10Unequal weights and unequal measures are both alike an abomination to the LORD. | 10Differing weights and varying measures-- both are detestable to the LORD. |
| 11Even a child makes himself known by his acts, by whether his conduct is pure and upright. | 11Even a young man is known by his actions-- if his behavior is pure and upright. |
| 12The hearing ear and the seeing eye, the LORD has made them both. | 12The hearing ear and the seeing eye-- the LORD made them both. |
| 13Love not sleep, lest you come to poverty; open your eyes, and you will have plenty of bread. | 13Don't love sleep, or you will become poor; open your eyes, and you'll have enough to eat." |
| 14“Bad, bad,” says the buyer, but when he goes away, then he boasts. | 14It's worthless, it's worthless!" the buyer says, but after he is on his way, he gloats. |
| 15There is gold and abundance of costly stones, but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel. | 15There is gold and a multitude of jewels, but knowledgeable lips are a rare treasure. |
| 16Take a man’s garment when he has put up security for a stranger, and hold it in pledge when he puts up security for foreigners. | 16Take his garment, for he has put up security for a stranger; get collateral if it is for foreigners. |
| 17Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man, but afterward his mouth will be full of gravel. | 17Food gained by fraud is sweet to a man, but afterward his mouth is full of gravel. |
| 18Plans are established by counsel; by wise guidance wage war. | 18Finalize plans with counsel, and wage war with sound guidance. |
| 19Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with a simple babbler. | 19The one who reveals secrets is a constant gossip; avoid someone with a big mouth. |
| 20If one curses his father or his mother, his lamp will be put out in utter darkness. | 20Whoever curses his father or mother-- his lamp will go out in deep darkness. |
| 21An inheritance gained hastily in the beginning will not be blessed in the end. | 21An inheritance gained prematurely will not be blessed ultimately. |
| 22Do not say, “I will repay evil”; wait for the LORD, and he will deliver you. | 22Don't say, "I will avenge this evil!" Wait on the LORD, and He will rescue you. |
| 23Unequal weights are an abomination to the LORD, and false scales are not good. | 23Differing weights are detestable to the LORD, and dishonest scales are unfair. |
| 24A man’s steps are from the LORD; how then can man understand his way? | 24A man's steps are determined by the LORD, so how can anyone understand his own way? |
| 25It is a snare to say rashly, “It is holy,” and to reflect only after making vows. | 25It is a trap for anyone to dedicate something rashly and later to reconsider his vows. |
| 26A wise king winnows the wicked and drives the wheel over them. | 26A wise king separates out the wicked and drives the threshing wheel over them. |
| 27The spirit of man is the lamp of the LORD, searching all his innermost parts. | 27The LORD's lamp sheds light on a person's life, searching the innermost parts. |
| 28Steadfast love and faithfulness preserve the king, and by steadfast love his throne is upheld. | 28Loyalty and faithfulness deliver a king; through loyalty he maintains his throne. |
| 29The glory of young men is their strength, but the splendor of old men is their gray hair. | 29The glory of young men is their strength, and the splendor of old men is gray hair. |
| 30Blows that wound cleanse away evil; strokes make clean the innermost parts. | 30Lashes and wounds purge away evil, and beatings cleanse the innermost parts. |
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