King James Bible

New Living Translation

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

1Better a dry crust eaten in peace than a house filled with feasting—and conflict.

2A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.

2A wise servant will rule over the master’s disgraceful son and will share the inheritance of the master’s children.

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

3Fire tests the purity of silver and gold, but the LORD tests the heart.

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

4Wrongdoers eagerly listen to gossip; liars pay close attention to slander.

5Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.

5Those who mock the poor insult their Maker; those who rejoice at the misfortune of others will be punished.

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

6Grandchildren are the crowning glory of the aged; parents are the pride of their children.

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

7Eloquent words are not fitting for a fool; even less are lies fitting 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 is like a lucky charm; whoever gives one will prosper!

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

9Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends.

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

10A single rebuke does more for a person of understanding than a hundred lashes on the back of a fool.

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

11Evil people are eager for rebellion, but they will be severely punished.

12Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.

12It is safer to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than to confront a fool caught in foolishness.

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

13If you repay good with evil, evil will never leave your house.

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 opening a floodgate, so stop before a dispute 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 innocent— 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?

16It is senseless to pay to educate a fool, since he has no heart for learning.

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

17A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need.

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

18It’s poor judgment to guarantee another person’s debt or put up security for a friend.

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

19Anyone who loves to quarrel loves sin; anyone who trusts in high walls invites disaster.

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

20The crooked heart will not prosper; the lying tongue tumbles into trouble.

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

21It is painful to be the parent of a fool; there is no joy for the father of a rebel.

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

22A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.

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

23The wicked take secret bribes 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.

24Sensible people keep their eyes glued on wisdom, but a fool’s eyes wander to the ends of the earth.

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

25Foolish children bring grief to their father and bitterness to the one who gave them birth.

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

26It is wrong to punish the godly for being good or to flog leaders for being honest.

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

27A truly wise person uses few words; a person with understanding is even-tempered.

28Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.

28Even fools are thought wise when they keep silent; with their mouths shut, they seem intelligent.

King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.