King James Bible

Christian Standard Bible

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

1Better a dry crust with peace 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 prudent servant will rule over a disgraceful son and share an inheritance among brothers.

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

3A crucible for silver, and a smelter for gold, and the LORD is the tester of hearts.

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

4A wicked person listens to malicious talk; a liar pays attention to a destructive 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 Maker, and one who rejoices over calamity will not go unpunished.

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

6Grandchildren are the crown of the elderly, and the pride of children is their fathers.

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

7Eloquent words are not appropriate on a fool's lips; how much worse 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 seems like a magic stone to its owner; wherever he turns, he succeeds.

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

9Whoever conceals an offense promotes love, but whoever gossips about it separates friends.

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

10A rebuke cuts into a perceptive person more than a hundred lashes into a fool.

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

11An evil person desires only rebellion; 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.

12Better for a person to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool in his foolishness.

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

13If anyone returns evil for good, evil will never depart from his house.

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

14To start a conflict is to release a flood; stop the dispute before it breaks out.

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

15Acquitting the guilty and condemning the just--both are detestable to the LORD.

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

16Why does a fool have money in his hand with no intention of buying wisdom?

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

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

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

18One without sense enters an agreement and puts up security for his friend.

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

19One who loves to offend loves strife; one who builds a high threshold invites injury.

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

20One with a twisted mind will not succeed, and one with deceitful speech will fall into ruin.

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

21A man fathers a fool to his own sorrow; the father of a fool has no joy.

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

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

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

23A wicked person secretly takes a bribe to subvert the course of justice.

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

24Wisdom is the focus of the perceptive, but a fool's eyes roam to the ends of the earth.

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

25A foolish son is grief to his father and bitterness to the one who bore him.

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

26It is certainly not good to fine an innocent person or to beat a noble for his honesty.

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

27The one who has knowledge restrains his words, and one who keeps a cool head is a person of understanding.

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 is considered wise when he keeps silent--discerning, when he seals his lips.

King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.

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