King James Bible

International Standard Version

1Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife.

1Dry crumbs in peace are better than a full meal with strife.

2A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.

2A prudent servant will rule in place of a disgraceful son and will share in the inheritance among brothers.

3The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts.

3The crucible is for silver and the furnace for gold— but the LORD assays hearts.

4A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.

4Whoever practices evil pays attention to wicked speech, and the liar listens to malicious talk.

5Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.

5Whoever mocks the poor shows contempt for their maker, and whoever is happy about disaster will not go unpunished.

6Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.

6Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the pride of children is their parents.

7Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.

7Appropriate speech is inconsistent with the fool; how much more are deceitful statements with a prince!

8A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.

8A bribe works wonders in the eyes of its giver; wherever he turns he prospers.

9He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.

9Anyone who overlooks an offense promotes love, but someone who gossips separates close friends.

10A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.

10A rebuke is more effective with a man of understanding than a hundred lashes to a fool.

11An evil man seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.

11A rebellious person seeks evil; a cruel emissary will be sent to oppose him.

12Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.

12It's better to meet a mother bear who has lost her cubs than a fool in his stupidity.

13Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.

13The person who repays good with evil will never see evil leave his home.

14The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.

14Starting a quarrel is like spilling water— so drop the dispute before it escalates.

15He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD.

15Exonerating the wicked and condemning the righteous are both detestable to the LORD.

16Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it?

16What is this? A fool has enough money to buy wisdom, but is senseless?

17A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

17A friend loves at all times, and a brother is there for times of trouble.

18A man void of understanding striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his friend.

18A man who lacks sense cosigns a loan, becoming a guarantor for his neighbor.

19He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.

19The person who loves transgression loves strife; the person who builds a high gate invites destruction.

20He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.

20The person whose mind is perverse does not find good, and anyone with perverted speech falls into trouble.

21He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.

21The man who fathers a fool does so to his sorrow— the father of a fool has no joy.

22A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

22A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit drains one's strength.

23A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.

23The wicked man takes a bribe in secret in order to pervert the course of justice.

24Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.

24A person with understanding has wisdom as his objective, but a fool looks only to earthly goals.

25A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him.

25A foolish son brings grief to his father and bitterness to his mother.

26Also to punish the just is not good, nor to strike princes for equity.

26Furthermore, it isn't good to fine the righteous, or to beat an official because of his uprightness.

27He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.

27Whoever controls what he says is knowledgeable; anyone who has a calm spirit is a man of understanding.

28Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.

28Even a fool is thought to be wise when he remains silent; he is thought to be prudent when he keeps his mouth shut.

King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.

The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.