| King James Bible | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1A false balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight. | 1Dishonest scales are detestable to the LORD, but an accurate weight is His delight. |
| 2When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom. | 2When pride comes, disgrace follows, but with humility comes wisdom. |
| 3The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them. | 3The integrity of the upright guides them, but the perversity of the treacherous destroys them. |
| 4Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death. | 4Wealth is not profitable on a day of wrath, but righteousness rescues from death. |
| 5The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness. | 5The righteousness of the blameless clears his path, but the wicked person will fall because of his wickedness. |
| 6The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: but transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness. | 6The righteousness of the upright rescues them, but the treacherous are trapped by their own desires. |
| 7When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish: and the hope of unjust men perisheth. | 7When the wicked man dies, his expectation comes to nothing, and hope placed in wealth vanishes. |
| 8The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead. | 8The righteous one is rescued from trouble; in his place, the wicked one goes in. |
| 9An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered. | 9With his mouth the ungodly destroys his neighbor, but through knowledge the righteous are rescued. |
| 10When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth: and when the wicked perish, there is shouting. | 10When the righteous thrive, a city rejoices, and when the wicked die, there is joyful shouting. |
| 11By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked. | 11A city is built up by the blessing of the upright, but it is torn down by the mouth of the wicked. |
| 12He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour: but a man of understanding holdeth his peace. | 12Whoever shows contempt for his neighbor lacks sense, but a man with understanding keeps silent. |
| 13A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter. | 13A gossip goes around revealing a secret, but a trustworthy person keeps a confidence. |
| 14Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellers there is safety. | 14Without guidance, people fall, but with many counselors there is deliverance. |
| 15He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it: and he that hateth suretiship is sure. | 15If someone puts up security for a stranger, he will suffer for it, but the one who hates such agreements is protected. |
| 16A gracious woman retaineth honour: and strong men retain riches. | 16A gracious woman gains honor, but violent men gain only riches. |
| 17The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh. | 17A kind man benefits himself, but a cruel man brings disaster on himself. |
| 18The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward. | 18The wicked man earns an empty wage, but the one who sows righteousness, a true reward. |
| 19As righteousness tendeth to life: so he that pursueth evil pursueth it to his own death. | 19Genuine righteousness leads to life, but pursuing evil leads to death. |
| 20They that are of a froward heart are abomination to the LORD: but such as are upright in their way are his delight. | 20Those with twisted minds are detestable to the LORD, but those with blameless conduct are His delight. |
| 21Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered. | 21Be assured that the wicked will not go unpunished, but the offspring of the righteous will escape. |
| 22As a jewel of gold in a swine's snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion. | 22A beautiful woman who rejects good sense is like a gold ring in a pig's snout. |
| 23The desire of the righteous is only good: but the expectation of the wicked is wrath. | 23The desire of the righteous turns out well, but the hope of the wicked leads to wrath. |
| 24There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty. | 24One person gives freely, yet gains more; another withholds what is right, only to become poor. |
| 25The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself. | 25A generous person will be enriched, and the one who gives a drink of water will receive water. |
| 26He that withholdeth corn, the people shall curse him: but blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it. | 26People will curse anyone who hoards grain, but a blessing will come to the one who sells it. |
| 27He that diligently seeketh good procureth favour: but he that seeketh mischief, it shall come unto him. | 27The one who searches for what is good finds favor, but if someone looks for trouble, it will come to him. |
| 28He that trusteth in his riches shall fall: but the righteous shall flourish as a branch. | 28Anyone trusting in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like foliage. |
| 29He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind: and the fool shall be servant to the wise of heart. | 29The one who brings ruin on his household will inherit the wind, and a fool will be a slave to someone whose heart is wise. |
| 30The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise. | 30The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, but violence takes lives. |
| 31Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth: much more the wicked and the sinner. | 31If the righteous will be repaid on earth, how much more the wicked and sinful. |
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