English Standard Version

New Living Translation

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

1Wine produces mockers; alcohol leads to brawls. Those led astray by drink cannot be wise.

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

2The king’s fury is like a lion’s roar; to rouse his anger is to risk your life.

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

3Avoiding a fight is a mark of honor; only fools insist on quarreling.

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

4Those too lazy to plow in the right season will have no food at the harvest.

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

5Though good advice lies deep within the heart, a person with understanding will draw it out.

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

6Many will say they are loyal friends, but who can find one who is truly reliable?

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

7The godly walk with integrity; blessed are their children who follow them.

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

8When a king sits in judgment, he weighs all the evidence, distinguishing the bad from the good.

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

9Who can say, “I have cleansed my heart; I am pure and free from sin”?

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

10False weights and unequal measures — the LORD detests double standards of every kind.

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

11Even children are known by the way they act, whether their conduct is pure, and whether it is right.

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

12Ears to hear and eyes to see— both are gifts from the LORD.

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

13If you love sleep, you will end in poverty. Keep your eyes open, and there will be plenty to eat!

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

14The buyer haggles over the price, saying, “It’s worthless,” then brags about getting a bargain!

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

15Wise words are more valuable than much gold and many rubies.

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.

16Get security from someone who guarantees a stranger’s debt. Get a deposit if he does it for foreigners.

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

17Stolen bread tastes sweet, but it turns to gravel in the mouth.

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

18Plans succeed through good counsel; don’t go to war without wise advice.

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

19A gossip goes around telling secrets, so don’t hang around with chatterers.

20If one curses his father or his mother, his lamp will be put out in utter darkness.

20If you insult your father or mother, your light will be snuffed out in total darkness.

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

21An inheritance obtained too early in life is not a blessing in the end.

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

22Don’t say, “I will get even for this wrong.” Wait for the LORD to handle the matter.

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

23The LORD detests double standards; he is not pleased by dishonest scales.

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

24The LORD directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way?

25It is a snare to say rashly, “It is holy,” and to reflect only after making vows.

25Don’t trap yourself by making a rash promise to God and only later counting the cost.

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

26A wise king scatters the wicked like wheat, then runs his threshing wheel over them.

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

27The LORD’s light penetrates the human spirit, exposing every hidden motive.

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

28Unfailing love and faithfulness protect the king; his throne is made secure through love.

29The glory of young men is their strength, but the splendor of old men is their gray hair.

29The glory of the young is their strength; the gray hair of experience is the splendor of the old.

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

30Physical punishment cleanses away evil; such discipline purifies the heart.

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.

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.