| Holman Christian Standard Bible | NET Bible |
| 1The reflections of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the LORD. | 1The intentions of the heart belong to a man, but the answer of the tongue comes from the LORD. |
| 2All a man's ways seem right to him, but the LORD evaluates the motives. | 2All a person's ways seem right in his own opinion, but the LORD evaluates the motives. |
| 3Commit your activities to the LORD, and your plans will be achieved. | 3Commit your works to the LORD, and your plans will be established. |
| 4The LORD has prepared everything for His purpose-- even the wicked for the day of disaster. | 4The LORD works everything for its own ends--even the wicked for the day of disaster. |
| 5Everyone with a proud heart is detestable to the LORD; be assured, he will not go unpunished. | 5The LORD abhors every arrogant person; rest assured that they will not go unpunished. |
| 6Wickedness is atoned for by loyalty and faithfulness, and one turns from evil by the fear of the LORD. | 6Through loyal love and truth iniquity is appeased; through fearing the LORD one avoids evil. |
| 7When a man's ways please the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. | 7When a person's ways are pleasing to the LORD, he even reconciles his enemies to himself. |
| 8Better a little with righteousness than great income with injustice. | 8Better to have a little with righteousness than to have abundant income without justice. |
| 9A man's heart plans his way, but the LORD determines his steps. | 9A person plans his course, but the LORD directs his steps. |
| 10God's verdict is on the lips of a king; his mouth should not give an unfair judgment. | 10The divine verdict is in the words of the king, his pronouncements must not act treacherously against justice. |
| 11Honest balances and scales are the LORD's; all the weights in the bag are His concern. | 11Honest scales and balances are from the LORD; all the weights in the bag are his handiwork. |
| 12Wicked behavior is detestable to kings, since a throne is established through righteousness. | 12Doing wickedness is an abomination to kings, because a throne is established in righteousness. |
| 13Righteous lips are a king's delight, and he loves one who speaks honestly. | 13The delight of kings is righteous counsel, and they love the one who speaks uprightly. |
| 14A king's fury is a messenger of death, but a wise man appeases it. | 14A king's wrath is like a messenger of death, but a wise person appeases it. |
| 15When a king's face lights up, there is life; his favor is like a cloud with spring rain. | 15In the light of the king's face there is life, and his favor is like the clouds of the spring rain. |
| 16Get wisdom-- how much better it is than gold! And get understanding-- it is preferable to silver. | 16How much better it is to acquire wisdom than gold; to acquire understanding is more desirable than silver. |
| 17The highway of the upright avoids evil; the one who guards his way protects his life. | 17The highway of the upright is to turn away from evil; the one who guards his way safeguards his life. |
| 18Pride comes before destruction, and an arrogant spirit before a fall. | 18Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. |
| 19Better to be lowly of spirit with the humble than to divide plunder with the proud. | 19It is better to be lowly in spirit with the afflicted than to share the spoils with the proud. |
| 20The one who understands a matter finds success, and the one who trusts in the LORD will be happy. | 20The one who deals wisely in a matter will find success, and blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD. |
| 21Anyone with a wise heart is called discerning, and pleasant speech increases learning. | 21The one who is wise in heart is called discerning, and kind speech increases persuasiveness. |
| 22Insight is a fountain of life for its possessor, but the discipline of fools is folly. | 22Insight is like a life-giving fountain to the one who possesses it, but folly leads to the discipline of fools. |
| 23A wise heart instructs its mouth and increases learning with its speech. | 23A wise person's heart makes his speech wise and it adds persuasiveness to his words. |
| 24Pleasant words are a honeycomb: sweet to the taste and health to the body. | 24Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. |
| 25There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death. | 25There is a way that seems right to a person, but its end is the way that leads to death. |
| 26A worker's appetite works for him because his hunger urges him on. | 26A laborer's appetite works on his behalf, for his hunger urges him to work. |
| 27A worthless man digs up evil, and his speech is like a scorching fire. | 27A wicked scoundrel digs up evil, and his slander is like a scorching fire. |
| 28A contrary man spreads conflict, and a gossip separates close friends. | 28A perverse person spreads dissension, and a gossip separates the closest friends. |
| 29A violent man lures his neighbor, leading him in a way that is not good. | 29A violent person entices his neighbor, and leads him down a path that is terrible. |
| 30The one who narrows his eyes is planning deceptions; the one who compresses his lips brings about evil. | 30The one who winks his eyes devises perverse things, and one who compresses his lips brings about evil. |
| 31Gray hair is a glorious crown; it is found in the way of righteousness. | 31Gray hair is like a crown of glory; it is attained in the path of righteousness. |
| 32Patience is better than power, and controlling one's temper, than capturing a city. | 32Better to be slow to anger than to be a mighty warrior, and one who controls his temper is better than one who captures a city. |
| 33The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD. | 33The dice are thrown into the lap, but their every decision is from the LORD. |
|
