| King James Bible | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1A wise son heareth his father's instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke. | 1A wise son responds to his father's discipline, but a mocker doesn't listen to rebuke. |
| 2A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth: but the soul of the transgressors shall eat violence. | 2From the words of his mouth, a man will enjoy good things, but treacherous people have an appetite for violence. |
| 3He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction. | 3The one who guards his mouth protects his life; the one who opens his lips invites his own ruin. |
| 4The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat. | 4The slacker craves, yet has nothing, but the diligent is fully satisfied. |
| 5A righteous man hateth lying: but a wicked man is loathsome, and cometh to shame. | 5The righteous hate lying, but the wicked act disgustingly and disgracefully. |
| 6Righteousness keepeth him that is upright in the way: but wickedness overthroweth the sinner. | 6Righteousness guards people of integrity, but wickedness undermines the sinner. |
| 7There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches. | 7One man pretends to be rich but has nothing; another pretends to be poor but has great wealth. |
| 8The ransom of a man's life are his riches: but the poor heareth not rebuke. | 8Riches are a ransom for a man's life, but a poor man hears no threat. |
| 9The light of the righteous rejoiceth: but the lamp of the wicked shall be put out. | 9The light of the righteous shines brightly, but the lamp of the wicked is put out. |
| 10Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom. | 10Arrogance leads to nothing but strife, but wisdom is gained by those who take advice. |
| 11Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase. | 11Wealth obtained by fraud will dwindle, but whoever earns it through labor will multiply it. |
| 12Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life. | 12Delayed hope makes the heart sick, but fulfilled desire is a tree of life. |
| 13Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded. | 13The one who has contempt for instruction will pay the penalty, but the one who respects a command will be rewarded. |
| 14The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death. | 14A wise man's instruction is a fountain of life, turning people away from the snares of death. |
| 15Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard. | 15Good sense wins favor, but the way of the treacherous never changes. |
| 16Every prudent man dealeth with knowledge: but a fool layeth open his folly. | 16Every sensible person acts knowledgeably, but a fool displays his stupidity. |
| 17A wicked messenger falleth into mischief: but a faithful ambassador is health. | 17A wicked messenger falls into trouble, but a trustworthy courier brings healing. |
| 18Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured. | 18Poverty and disgrace come to those who ignore discipline, but the one who accepts correction will be honored. |
| 19The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul: but it is abomination to fools to depart from evil. | 19Desire fulfilled is sweet to the taste, but to turn from evil is an abomination to fools. |
| 20He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed. | 20The one who walks with the wise will become wise, but a companion of fools will suffer harm. |
| 21Evil pursueth sinners: but to the righteous good shall be repayed. | 21Disaster pursues sinners, but good rewards the righteous. |
| 22A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just. | 22A good man leaves an inheritance to his grandchildren, but the sinner's wealth is stored up for the righteous. |
| 23Much food is in the tillage of the poor: but there is that is destroyed for want of judgment. | 23The uncultivated field of the poor yields abundant food, but without justice, it is swept away. |
| 24He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes. | 24The one who will not use the rod hates his son, but the one who loves him disciplines him diligently. |
| 25The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul: but the belly of the wicked shall want. | 25A righteous man eats until he is satisfied, but the stomach of the wicked is empty. |
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