| New Living Translation | NET Bible |
| 1The king’s heart is like a stream of water directed by the LORD; he guides it wherever he pleases. | 1The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD like channels of water; he turns it wherever he wants. |
| 2People may be right in their own eyes, but the LORD examines their heart. | 2All of a person's ways seem right in his own opinion, but the LORD evaluates the motives. |
| 3The LORD is more pleased when we do what is right and just than when we offer him sacrifices. | 3To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice. |
| 4Haughty eyes, a proud heart, and evil actions are all sin. | 4Haughty eyes and a proud heart--the agricultural product of the wicked is sin. |
| 5Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty. | 5The plans of the diligent lead only to plenty, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty. |
| 6Wealth created by a lying tongue is a vanishing mist and a deadly trap. | 6Making a fortune by a lying tongue is like a vapor driven back and forth; they seek death. |
| 7The violence of the wicked sweeps them away, because they refuse to do what is just. | 7The violence done by the wicked will drag them away because they refuse to do what is right. |
| 8The guilty walk a crooked path; the innocent travel a straight road. | 8The way of the guilty person is devious, but as for the pure, his way is upright. |
| 9It’s better to live alone in the corner of an attic than with a quarrelsome wife in a lovely home. | 9It is better to live on a corner of the housetop than in a house in company with a quarrelsome wife. |
| 10Evil people desire evil; their neighbors get no mercy from them. | 10The appetite of the wicked desires evil; his neighbor is shown no favor in his eyes. |
| 11If you punish a mocker, the simpleminded become wise; if you instruct the wise, they will be all the wiser. | 11When a scorner is punished, the naive becomes wise; when a wise person is instructed, he gains knowledge. |
| 12The Righteous One knows what is going on in the homes of the wicked; he will bring disaster on them. | 12The Righteous One considers the house of the wicked; he overthrows the wicked to their ruin. |
| 13Those who shut their ears to the cries of the poor will be ignored in their own time of need. | 13The one who shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and will not be answered. |
| 14A secret gift calms anger; a bribe under the table pacifies fury. | 14A gift given in secret subdues anger, and a bribe given secretly subdues strong wrath. |
| 15Justice is a joy to the godly, but it terrifies evildoers. | 15Doing justice brings joy to the righteous and terror to those who do evil. |
| 16The person who strays from common sense will end up in the company of the dead. | 16The one who wanders from the way of wisdom will end up in the company of the departed. |
| 17Those who love pleasure become poor; those who love wine and luxury will never be rich. | 17The one who loves pleasure will be a poor person; whoever loves wine and anointing oil will not be rich. |
| 18The wicked are punished in place of the godly, and traitors in place of the honest. | 18The wicked become a ransom for the righteous, and the faithless are taken in the place of the upright. |
| 19It’s better to live alone in the desert than with a quarrelsome, complaining wife. | 19It is better to live in a desert land than with a quarrelsome and easily-provoked woman. |
| 20The wise have wealth and luxury, but fools spend whatever they get. | 20There is desirable treasure and olive oil in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish person devours all he has. |
| 21Whoever pursues righteousness and unfailing love will find life, righteousness, and honor. | 21The one who pursues righteousness and love finds life, bounty, and honor. |
| 22The wise conquer the city of the strong and level the fortress in which they trust. | 22The wise person can scale the city of the mighty and bring down the stronghold in which they trust. |
| 23Watch your tongue and keep your mouth shut, and you will stay out of trouble. | 23The one who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps his life from troubles. |
| 24Mockers are proud and haughty; they act with boundless arrogance. | 24A proud and arrogant person, whose name is "Scoffer," acts with overbearing pride. |
| 25Despite their desires, the lazy will come to ruin, for their hands refuse to work. | 25What the sluggard desires will kill him, for his hands refuse to work. |
| 26Some people are always greedy for more, but the godly love to give! | 26All day long he craves greedily, but the righteous gives and does not hold back. |
| 27The sacrifice of an evil person is detestable, especially when it is offered with wrong motives. | 27The wicked person's sacrifice is an abomination; how much more when he brings it with evil intent! |
| 28A false witness will be cut off, but a credible witness will be allowed to speak. | 28A lying witness will perish, but the one who reports accurately speaks forever. |
| 29The wicked bluff their way through, but the virtuous think before they act. | 29A wicked person shows boldness with his face, but as for the upright, he discerns his ways. |
| 30No human wisdom or understanding or plan can stand against the LORD. | 30There is no wisdom and there is no understanding, and there is no counsel against the LORD. |
| 31The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the LORD. | 31A horse is prepared for the day of battle, but the victory is from the LORD. |
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