| King James Bible | New International Version |
| 1Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom. | 1An unfriendly person pursues selfish ends and against all sound judgment starts quarrels. |
| 2A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself. | 2Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. |
| 3When the wicked cometh, then cometh also contempt, and with ignominy reproach. | 3When wickedness comes, so does contempt, and with shame comes reproach. |
| 4The words of a man's mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook. | 4The words of the mouth are deep waters, but the fountain of wisdom is a rushing stream. |
| 5It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment. | 5It is not good to be partial to the wicked and so deprive the innocent of justice. |
| 6A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes. | 6The lips of fools bring them strife, and their mouths invite a beating. |
| 7A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul. | 7The mouths of fools are their undoing, and their lips are a snare to their very lives. |
| 8The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly. | 8The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts. |
| 9He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster. | 9One who is slack in his work is brother to one who destroys. |
| 10The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe. | 10The name of the LORD is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe. |
| 11The rich man's wealth is his strong city, and as an high wall in his own conceit. | 11The wealth of the rich is their fortified city; they imagine it a wall too high to scale. |
| 12Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility. | 12Before a downfall the heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor. |
| 13He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him. | 13To answer before listening-- that is folly and shame. |
| 14The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear? | 14The human spirit can endure in sickness, but a crushed spirit who can bear? |
| 15The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge. | 15The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, for the ears of the wise seek it out. |
| 16A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men. | 16A gift opens the way and ushers the giver into the presence of the great. |
| 17He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him. | 17In a lawsuit the first to speak seems right, until someone comes forward and cross-examines. |
| 18The lot causeth contentions to cease, and parteth between the mighty. | 18Casting the lot settles disputes and keeps strong opponents apart. |
| 19A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle. | 19A brother wronged is more unyielding than a fortified city; disputes are like the barred gates of a citadel. |
| 20A man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled. | 20From the fruit of their mouth a person's stomach is filled; with the harvest of their lips they are satisfied. |
| 21Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. | 21The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. |
| 22Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD. | 22He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the LORD. |
| 23The poor useth intreaties; but the rich answereth roughly. | 23The poor plead for mercy, but the rich answer harshly. |
| 24A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. | 24One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. |
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