English Standard Version

King James Bible

1Better is a dry morsel with quiet than a house full of feasting with strife.

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

2A servant who deals wisely will rule over a son who acts shamefully and will share the inheritance as one of the brothers.

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

3The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and the LORD tests hearts.

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

4An evildoer listens to wicked lips, and a liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.

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

5Whoever mocks the poor insults his Maker; he who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished.

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

6Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of children is their fathers.

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

7Fine speech is not becoming to a fool; still less is false speech to a prince.

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

8A bribe is like a magic stone in the eyes of the one who gives it; wherever he turns he prospers.

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

9Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends.

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

10A rebuke goes deeper into a man of understanding than a hundred blows into a fool.

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

11An evil man seeks only rebellion, and a cruel messenger will be sent against him.

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

12Let a man meet a she-bear robbed of her cubs rather than a fool in his folly.

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

13If anyone returns evil for good, evil will not depart from his house.

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

14The beginning of strife is like letting out water, so quit before the quarrel breaks out.

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

15He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous are both alike an abomination to the LORD.

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

16Why should a fool have money in his hand to buy wisdom when he has no sense?

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

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

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

18One who lacks sense gives a pledge and puts up security in the presence of his neighbor.

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

19Whoever loves transgression loves strife; he who makes his door high seeks destruction.

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

20A man of crooked heart does not discover good, and one with a dishonest tongue falls into calamity.

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

21He who sires a fool gets himself sorrow, and the father of a fool has no joy.

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

22A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

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

23The wicked accepts a bribe in secret to pervert the ways of justice.

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

24The discerning sets his face toward wisdom, but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.

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

25A foolish son is a grief to his father and bitterness to her who bore him.

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

26To impose a fine on a righteous man is not good, nor to strike the noble for their uprightness.

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

27Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.

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

28Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.

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

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.

King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.