NET Bible | International Standard Version |
1The intentions of the heart belong to a man, but the answer of the tongue comes from the LORD. | 1People do the planning, but the end result is from the LORD. |
2All a person's ways seem right in his own opinion, but the LORD evaluates the motives. | 2Everything a person does seems pure in his own opinion, but the LORD weighs intentions. |
3Commit your works to the LORD, and your plans will be established. | 3Entrust your work to the LORD, and your planning will succeed. |
4The LORD works everything for its own ends--even the wicked for the day of disaster. | 4The LORD made everything answerable to him, including the wicked at the time of trouble. |
5The LORD abhors every arrogant person; rest assured that they will not go unpunished. | 5The LORD detests those who are proud; truly they will not go unpunished. |
6Through loyal love and truth iniquity is appeased; through fearing the LORD one avoids evil. | 6Iniquity is atoned for by gracious love and truth, and through fear of the LORD people turn from evil. |
7When a person's ways are pleasing to the LORD, he even reconciles his enemies to himself. | 7When a person's ways please the LORD, even his enemies will be at peace with him. |
8Better to have a little with righteousness than to have abundant income without justice. | 8A little gain with righteousness is better than great income without justice. |
9A person plans his course, but the LORD directs his steps. | 9A person plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps. |
10The divine verdict is in the words of the king, his pronouncements must not act treacherously against justice. | 10When a king is ready to speak officially, what he says should not err with respect to justice. |
11Honest scales and balances are from the LORD; all the weights in the bag are his handiwork. | 11Honest scales and balances are from the LORD; he made all the weights in the bag. |
12Doing wickedness is an abomination to kings, because a throne is established in righteousness. | 12Kings detest wrongdoing, for through righteousness the throne is established. |
13The delight of kings is righteous counsel, and they love the one who speaks uprightly. | 13Kings take pleasure in righteous speech; they treasure a person who speaks what is upright. |
14A king's wrath is like a messenger of death, but a wise person appeases it. | 14The king's wrath results in a death sentence, but whoever is wise will appease him. |
15In the light of the king's face there is life, and his favor is like the clouds of the spring rain. | 15When a king is pleased, there is life, and his favor is like a cloud that brings spring rain. |
16How much better it is to acquire wisdom than gold; to acquire understanding is more desirable than silver. | 16How much better than gaining gold is the acquisition of wisdom, the attainment of wisdom better than silver! |
17The highway of the upright is to turn away from evil; the one who guards his way safeguards his life. | 17The road of the upright circumvents evil, and whoever watches how he lives preserves his life. |
18Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. | 18Pride precedes destruction; an arrogant spirit appears before a fall. |
19It is better to be lowly in spirit with the afflicted than to share the spoils with the proud. | 19Better to be humble among the poor, than to share what is stolen with the proud. |
20The one who deals wisely in a matter will find success, and blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD. | 20Whoever listens to a word of instruction prospers, and anyone who trusts in the LORD is blessed. |
21The one who is wise in heart is called discerning, and kind speech increases persuasiveness. | 21The wise-hearted person is told to be discerning, and that pleasant speech promotes instruction. |
22Insight is like a life-giving fountain to the one who possesses it, but folly leads to the discipline of fools. | 22Anyone who has understanding is a fountain of life, but foolishness brings punishment to fools. |
23A wise person's heart makes his speech wise and it adds persuasiveness to his words. | 23A wise person's thoughts control his words, and his speech promotes instruction. |
24Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. | 24Pleasant words are honey from a honeycomb— sweet to the soul and healing for the body. |
25There is a way that seems right to a person, but its end is the way that leads to death. | 25There is a road that seems right for a man to travel, but in the end it's the road to death. |
26A laborer's appetite works on his behalf, for his hunger urges him to work. | 26The appetite of the laborer motivates him; indeed, his hunger drives him on. |
27A wicked scoundrel digs up evil, and his slander is like a scorching fire. | 27A worthless person concocts evil gossip — his lips are like a burning fire. |
28A perverse person spreads dissension, and a gossip separates the closest friends. | 28A deceitful man stirs dissension, and anyone who gossips separates friends. |
29A violent person entices his neighbor, and leads him down a path that is terrible. | 29A violent man entices his companion and leads him on a path that is not good. |
30The one who winks his eyes devises perverse things, and one who compresses his lips brings about evil. | 30Whoever winks knowingly is plotting deceit; anyone who purses his lips is bent towards evil. |
31Gray hair is like a crown of glory; it is attained in the path of righteousness. | 31Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is obtained by following a righteous path. |
32Better to be slow to anger than to be a mighty warrior, and one who controls his temper is better than one who captures a city. | 32Whoever controls his temper is better than a warrior, and anyone who has control of his spirit is better than someone who captures a city. |
33The dice are thrown into the lap, but their every decision is from the LORD. | 33The dice is cast into someone's lap, but the outcome is from the LORD. |
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