| English Standard Version | New International Version |
| 1Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise. | 1Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by 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 wrath strikes terror like the roar of a lion; those who anger him forfeit their lives. |
| 3It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarreling. | 3It is to one's honor to avoid strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel. |
| 4The sluggard does not plow in the autumn; he will seek at harvest and have nothing. | 4Sluggards do not plow in season; so at harvest time they look but find nothing. |
| 5The purpose in a man’s heart is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out. | 5The purposes of a person's heart are deep waters, but one who has insight draws them out. |
| 6Many a man proclaims his own steadfast love, but a faithful man who can find? | 6Many claim to have unfailing love, but a faithful person who can find? |
| 7The righteous who walks in his integrity— blessed are his children after him! | 7The righteous lead blameless lives; blessed are their children after them. |
| 8A king who sits on the throne of judgment winnows all evil with his eyes. | 8When a king sits on his throne to judge, he winnows 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 clean and without sin"? |
| 10Unequal weights and unequal measures are both alike an abomination to the LORD. | 10Differing weights and differing measures-- the LORD detests them both. |
| 11Even a child makes himself known by his acts, by whether his conduct is pure and upright. | 11Even small children are known by their actions, so is their conduct really pure and upright? |
| 12The hearing ear and the seeing eye, the LORD has made them both. | 12Ears that hear and eyes that see-- the LORD has 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 will grow poor; stay awake and you will have food to spare. |
| 14“Bad, bad,” says the buyer, but when he goes away, then he boasts. | 14"It's no good, it's no good!" says the buyer-- then goes off and boasts about the purchase. |
| 15There is gold and abundance of costly stones, but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel. | 15Gold there is, and rubies in abundance, but lips that speak 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 one who puts up security for a stranger; hold it in pledge if it is done for an outsider. |
| 17Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man, but afterward his mouth will be full of gravel. | 17Food gained by fraud tastes sweet, but one ends up with a mouth full of gravel. |
| 18Plans are established by counsel; by wise guidance wage war. | 18Plans are established by seeking advice; so if you wage war, obtain guidance. |
| 19Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with a simple babbler. | 19A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid anyone who talks too much. |
| 20If one curses his father or his mother, his lamp will be put out in utter darkness. | 20If someone curses their father or mother, their lamp will be snuffed out in pitch darkness. |
| 21An inheritance gained hastily in the beginning will not be blessed in the end. | 21An inheritance claimed too soon will not be blessed at the end. |
| 22Do not say, “I will repay evil”; wait for the LORD, and he will deliver you. | 22Do not say, "I'll pay you back for this wrong!" Wait for the LORD, and he will avenge you. |
| 23Unequal weights are an abomination to the LORD, and false scales are not good. | 23The LORD detests differing weights, and dishonest scales do not please him. |
| 24A man’s steps are from the LORD; how then can man understand his way? | 24A person's steps are directed by the LORD. How then can anyone understand their own way? |
| 25It is a snare to say rashly, “It is holy,” and to reflect only after making vows. | 25It is a trap to dedicate something rashly and only later to consider one's vows. |
| 26A wise king winnows the wicked and drives the wheel over them. | 26A wise king winnows out the wicked; he drives the threshing wheel over them. |
| 27The spirit of man is the lamp of the LORD, searching all his innermost parts. | 27The human spirit is the lamp of the LORD that sheds light on one's inmost being. |
| 28Steadfast love and faithfulness preserve the king, and by steadfast love his throne is upheld. | 28Love and faithfulness keep a king safe; 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, gray hair the splendor of the old. |
| 30Blows that wound cleanse away evil; strokes make clean the innermost parts. | 30Blows and wounds scrub away evil, and beatings purge the inmost 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. | New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. |
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