English Standard Version

Christian Standard Bible

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

1Wine is a mocker, beer is a brawler; whoever goes astray because of them is not wise.

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

2A king's terrible wrath is like the roaring of a lion; anyone who provokes him endangers himself.

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

3Honor belongs to the person who ends a dispute, but any fool can get himself into a quarrel.

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

4The slacker does not plow during planting season; at harvest time he looks, and there is nothing.

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

5Counsel in a person's heart is deep water; but a person of understanding draws it out.

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

6Many a person proclaims his own loyalty, but who can find a trustworthy person?

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

7A righteous person acts with integrity; his children who come after him will be happy.

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

8A king sitting on a throne to judge separates out all evil with his eyes.

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

9Who can say, "I have kept my heart pure; I am cleansed from my sin"?

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

10Differing weights and varying measures--both are detestable to the LORD.

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

11Even a young man is known by his actions--by whether his behavior is pure and upright.

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

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

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

13Don't love sleep, or you will become poor; open your eyes, and you'll have enough to eat.

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

14"It's worthless, it's worthless!" the buyer says, but after he is on his way, he gloats.

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

15There is gold and a multitude of jewels, but knowledgeable lips are a rare treasure.

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.

16Take his garment, for he has put up security for a stranger; get collateral if it is for foreigners.

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

17Food gained by fraud is sweet to a person, but afterward his mouth is full of gravel.

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

18Finalize plans with counsel, and wage war with sound guidance.

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

19The one who reveals secrets is a constant gossip; avoid someone with a big mouth.

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

20Whoever curses his father or mother-- his lamp will go out in deep darkness.

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

21An inheritance gained prematurely will not be blessed ultimately.

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

22Don't say, "I will avenge this evil!" Wait on the LORD, and he will rescue you.

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

23Differing weights are detestable to the LORD, and dishonest scales are unfair.

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

24Even a courageous person's steps are determined by the LORD, so how can anyone understand his own way?

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

25It is a trap for anyone to dedicate something rashly and later to reconsider his vows.

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

26A wise king separates out the wicked and drives the threshing wheel over them.

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

27The LORD's lamp sheds light on a person's life, searching the innermost parts.

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

28Loyalty and faithfulness guard a king; through loyalty he maintains his throne.

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

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

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

30Lashes and wounds purge away evil, and beatings cleanse the innermost parts.

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.

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.