English Standard Version

International Standard Version

1Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.

1Wine causes mocking, and beer causes fights; everyone led astray by them lacks wisdom.

2The terror of a king is like the growling of a lion; whoever provokes him to anger forfeits his life.

2A king's anger is like a lion's roar; anyone who angers him forfeits his life.

3It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarreling.

3Avoiding strife brings a man honor, but every fool is quarrelsome.

4The sluggard does not plow in the autumn; he will seek at harvest and have nothing.

4A lazy person doesn't plow in the proper season; he looks for a harvest, but there is nothing.

5The purpose in a man’s heart is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out.

5The intentions of a person's heart are deep waters, but a discerning person reveals them.

6Many a man proclaims his own steadfast love, but a faithful man who can find?

6Many claim "I'm a loyal person!" but who can find someone who truly is?

7The righteous who walks in his integrity— blessed are his children after him!

7The righteous person lives a life of integrity; happy are his children who follow him!

8A king who sits on the throne of judgment winnows all evil with his eyes.

8A king sits on a throne of justice, sifting out all sorts of evil with his glance.

9Who can say, “I have made my heart pure; I am clean from my sin”?

9Who can say, "My intentions are pure; I am clean from any sin?"

10Unequal weights and unequal measures are both alike an abomination to the LORD.

10FALSE weights and measures— the LORD surely detests both of them.

11Even a child makes himself known by his acts, by whether his conduct is pure and upright.

11Even a child is known by his actions, whether his deeds are pure and right.

12The hearing ear and the seeing eye, the LORD has made them both.

12The ear that hears and the eye that sees— the LORD surely made them both.

13Love not sleep, lest you come to poverty; open your eyes, and you will have plenty of bread.

13Do not love sleep or you'll become poor, keep your eyes open and you'll have plenty of food.

14“Bad, bad,” says the buyer, but when he goes away, then he boasts.

14"This is bad, bad," says whoever is buying— but then he brags as he walks away after the sale.

15There is gold and abundance of costly stones, but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.

15There is an abundance of gold and precious stones, but lips of knowledge are a rare jewel.

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 the garment of anyone who puts up collateral for a stranger; hold it in pledge if he does it for an unfamiliar woman.

17Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man, but afterward his mouth will be full of gravel.

17Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man, but later his mouth will be full of gravel.

18Plans are established by counsel; by wise guidance wage war.

18Make plans by seeking advice; make war by obtaining guidance.

19Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with a simple babbler.

19Whoever spreads gossip betrays confidences; so don't get involved with someone who talks too much.

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 be extinguished in the deepest darkness.

21An inheritance gained hastily in the beginning will not be blessed in the end.

21An inheritance quickly obtained at the beginning will not be blessed at the end.

22Do not say, “I will repay evil”; wait for the LORD, and he will deliver you.

22Don't say "I'll avenge that wrong!" Wait on the LORD and he will deliver you.

23Unequal weights are an abomination to the LORD, and false scales are not good.

23The LORD detests differing weights, and dishonest scales are not good.

24A man’s steps are from the LORD; how then can man understand his way?

24A man's steps are directed by the LORD; how then 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 a person to declare quickly, "This is sacred," and only later to have second thoughts about the vows.

26A wise king winnows the wicked and drives the wheel over them.

26A wise king sifts the wicked, crushing them with the threshing wheel.

27The spirit of man is the lamp of the LORD, searching all his innermost parts.

27A person's spirit is the lamp of the LORD; it searches throughout one's innermost being.

28Steadfast love and faithfulness preserve the king, and by steadfast love his throne is upheld.

28Gracious love and truth preserve a king; through love his throne is made secure.

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 elders is their gray hair.

30Blows that wound cleanse away evil; strokes make clean the innermost parts.

30Blows that wound clean away evil; such beatings cleanse the innermost being.

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.

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