| New King James Version | English Standard Version |
| 1Better is a dry morsel with quietness, Than a house full of feasting with strife. | 1Better is a dry morsel with quiet than a house full of feasting with strife. |
| 2A wise servant will rule over a son who causes shame, And will share an inheritance among the brothers. | 2A servant who deals wisely will rule over a son who acts shamefully and will share the inheritance as one of the brothers. |
| 3The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, But the LORD tests the hearts. | 3The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and the LORD tests hearts. |
| 4An evildoer gives heed to false lips; A liar listens eagerly to a spiteful tongue. | 4An evildoer listens to wicked lips, and a liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue. |
| 5He who mocks the poor reproaches his Maker; He who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished. | 5Whoever mocks the poor insults his Maker; he who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished. |
| 6Children’s children are the crown of old men, And the glory of children is their father. | 6Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of children is their fathers. |
| 7Excellent speech is not becoming to a fool, Much less lying lips to a prince. | 7Fine speech is not becoming to a fool; still less is false speech to a prince. |
| 8A present is a precious stone in the eyes of its possessor; Wherever he turns, he prospers. | 8A bribe is like a magic stone in the eyes of the one who gives it; wherever he turns he prospers. |
| 9He who covers a transgression seeks love, But he who repeats a matter separates friends. | 9Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends. |
| 10Rebuke is more effective for a wise man Than a hundred blows on a fool. | 10A rebuke goes deeper into a man of understanding than a hundred blows into a fool. |
| 11An evil man seeks only rebellion; Therefore a cruel messenger will be sent against him. | 11An evil man seeks only rebellion, and a cruel messenger will be sent against him. |
| 12Let a man meet a bear robbed of her cubs, Rather than a fool in his folly. | 12Let a man meet a she-bear robbed of her cubs rather than a fool in his folly. |
| 13Whoever rewards evil for good, Evil will not depart from his house. | 13If anyone returns evil for good, evil will not depart from his house. |
| 14The beginning of strife is like releasing water; Therefore stop contention before a quarrel starts. | 14The beginning of strife is like letting out water, so quit before the quarrel breaks out. |
| 15He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the just, Both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD. | 15He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous are both alike an abomination to the LORD. |
| 16Why is there in the hand of a fool the purchase price of wisdom, Since he has no heart for it? | 16Why should a fool have money in his hand to buy wisdom when he has no sense? |
| 17A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity. | 17A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. |
| 18A man devoid of understanding shakes hands in a pledge, And becomes surety for his friend. | 18One who lacks sense gives a pledge and puts up security in the presence of his neighbor. |
| 19He who loves transgression loves strife, And he who exalts his gate seeks destruction. | 19Whoever loves transgression loves strife; he who makes his door high seeks destruction. |
| 20He who has a deceitful heart finds no good, And he who has a perverse tongue falls into evil. | 20A man of crooked heart does not discover good, and one with a dishonest tongue falls into calamity. |
| 21He who begets a scoffer does so to his sorrow, And the father of a fool has no joy. | 21He who sires a fool gets himself sorrow, and the father of a fool has no joy. |
| 22A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones. | 22A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. |
| 23A wicked man accepts a bribe behind the back To pervert the ways of justice. | 23The wicked accepts a bribe in secret to pervert the ways of justice. |
| 24Wisdom is in the sight of him who has understanding, But the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth. | 24The discerning sets his face toward wisdom, but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth. |
| 25A foolish son is a grief to his father, And bitterness to her who bore him. | 25A foolish son is a grief to his father and bitterness to her who bore him. |
| 26Also, to punish the righteous is not good, Nor to strike princes for their uprightness. | 26To impose a fine on a righteous man is not good, nor to strike the noble for their uprightness. |
| 27He who has knowledge spares his words, And a man of understanding is of a calm spirit. | 27Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding. |
| 28Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; When he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive. | 28Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent. |
| The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. | ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved. |
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