King James Bible | International Standard Version |
1Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife. | 1Dry crumbs in peace are better than a full meal 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 in place of a disgraceful son and will share in the inheritance among brothers. |
3The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts. | 3The crucible is for silver and the furnace for gold— but the LORD assays hearts. |
4A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue. | 4Whoever practices evil pays attention to wicked speech, and the liar listens to malicious talk. |
5Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished. | 5Whoever mocks the poor shows contempt for their maker, and whoever is happy about disaster 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 aged, and the pride of children is their parents. |
7Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince. | 7Appropriate speech is inconsistent with the fool; how much more are deceitful statements with a prince! |
8A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth. | 8A bribe works wonders in the eyes of its giver; wherever he turns he prospers. |
9He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends. | 9Anyone who overlooks an offense promotes love, but someone who gossips separates close friends. |
10A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool. | 10A rebuke is more effective with a man of understanding than a hundred lashes to a fool. |
11An evil man seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him. | 11A rebellious person seeks evil; a cruel emissary will be sent to oppose him. |
12Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly. | 12It's better to meet a mother bear who has lost her cubs than a fool in his stupidity. |
13Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house. | 13The person who repays good with evil will never see evil leave his home. |
14The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with. | 14Starting a quarrel is like spilling water— so drop the dispute before it escalates. |
15He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD. | 15Exonerating the wicked and condemning the righteous are both 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? | 16What is this? A fool has enough money to buy wisdom, but is senseless? |
17A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. | 17A friend loves at all times, and a brother is there for times of trouble. |
18A man void of understanding striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his friend. | 18A man who lacks sense cosigns a loan, becoming a guarantor for his neighbor. |
19He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction. | 19The person who loves transgression loves strife; the person who builds a high gate invites destruction. |
20He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief. | 20The person whose mind is perverse does not find good, and anyone with perverted speech falls into trouble. |
21He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy. | 21The man who fathers a fool does so to his 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 drains one's strength. |
23A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment. | 23The wicked man takes a bribe in secret in order to pervert the course of justice. |
24Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth. | 24A person with understanding has wisdom as his objective, but a fool looks only to earthly goals. |
25A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him. | 25A foolish son brings grief to his father and bitterness to his mother. |
26Also to punish the just is not good, nor to strike princes for equity. | 26Furthermore, it isn't good to fine the righteous, or to beat an official because of his uprightness. |
27He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit. | 27Whoever controls what he says is knowledgeable; anyone who has a calm spirit is a man 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 thought to be wise when he remains silent; he is thought to be prudent when he keeps his mouth shut. |
King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com. | The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. |
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