| King James Bible | NET Bible |
| 1Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife. | 1Better is a dry crust of bread where there is quietness than a house full of feasting 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 servant who acts wisely will rule over an heir who behaves shamefully, and will share the inheritance along with the relatives. |
| 3The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts. | 3The crucible is for refining silver and the furnace is for gold, likewise the LORD tests hearts. |
| 4A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue. | 4One who acts wickedly pays attention to evil counsel; a liar listens to a malicious tongue. |
| 5Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished. | 5The one who mocks the poor insults his Creator; whoever rejoices over disaster will not go unpunished. |
| 6Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers. | 6Grandchildren are like a crown to the elderly, and the glory of children is their parents. |
| 7Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince. | 7Excessive speech is not becoming for a fool; how much less are lies for a ruler! |
| 8A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth. | 8A bribe works like a charm for the one who offers it; in whatever he does he succeeds. |
| 9He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends. | 9The one who forgives an offense seeks love, but whoever repeats a matter separates close friends. |
| 10A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool. | 10A rebuke makes a greater impression on a discerning person than a hundred blows on a fool. |
| 11An evil man seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him. | 11An evil person seeks only rebellion, and so a cruel messenger will be sent against him. |
| 12Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly. | 12It is better for a person to meet a mother bear being robbed of her cubs, than to encounter a fool in his folly. |
| 13Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house. | 13As for the one who repays evil for good, evil will not leave his house. |
| 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 letting out water; stop it before strife breaks out! |
| 15He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD. | 15The one who acquits the guilty and the one who condemns the innocent--both of them are an abomination to the LORD. |
| 16Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it? | 16Of what use is money in the hand of a fool, since he has no intention of acquiring wisdom? |
| 17A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. | 17A friend loves at all times, and a relative is born to help in adversity. |
| 18A man void of understanding striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his friend. | 18The one who lacks wisdom strikes hands in pledge, and puts up financial security for his neighbor. |
| 19He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction. | 19The one who loves a quarrel loves transgression; whoever builds his gate high seeks destruction. |
| 20He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief. | 20The one who has a perverse heart does not find good, and the one who is deceitful in speech falls into trouble. |
| 21He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy. | 21Whoever brings a fool into the world does so to his grief, and the father of a fool has no joy. |
| 22A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones. | 22A cheerful heart brings good healing, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. |
| 23A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment. | 23A wicked person receives a bribe secretly to pervert the ways of justice. |
| 24Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth. | 24Wisdom is directly in front of the discerning person, but the eyes of a fool run to the ends of the earth. |
| 25A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him. | 25A foolish child is a grief to his father, and bitterness to the mother who bore him. |
| 26Also to punish the just is not good, nor to strike princes for equity. | 26It is terrible to punish a righteous person, and to flog honorable men is wrong. |
| 27He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit. | 27The truly wise person restrains his words, and the one who stays calm is discerning. |
| 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 who remains silent is considered wise, and the one who holds his tongue is deemed discerning. |
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