| New King James Version | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Wine is a mocker, Strong drink is a brawler, And whoever is led astray by it is not wise. | 1Wine is a mocker, beer is a brawler, and whoever staggers because of them is not wise. |
| 2The wrath of a king is like the roaring of a lion; Whoever provokes him to anger sins against his own life. | 2A king's terrible wrath is like the roaring of a lion; anyone who provokes him endangers himself. |
| 3It is honorable for a man to stop striving, Since any fool can start a quarrel. | 3It is honorable for a man to resolve a dispute, but any fool can get himself into a quarrel. |
| 4The lazy man will not plow because of winter; He will beg during harvest and have nothing. | 4The slacker does not plow during planting season; at harvest time he looks, and there is nothing. |
| 5Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water, But a man of understanding will draw it out. | 5Counsel in a man's heart is deep water; but a man of understanding draws it out. |
| 6Most men will proclaim each his own goodness, But who can find a faithful man? | 6Many a man proclaims his own loyalty, but who can find a trustworthy man? |
| 7The righteous man walks in his integrity; His children are blessed after him. | 7The one who lives with integrity is righteous; his children who come after him will be happy. |
| 8A king who sits on the throne of judgment Scatters all evil with his eyes. | 8A king sitting on a throne to judge sifts out all evil with his eyes. |
| 9Who can say, “I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin”? | 9Who can say, "I have kept my heart pure; I am cleansed from my sin"? |
| 10Diverse weights and diverse measures, They are both alike, an abomination to the LORD. | 10Differing weights and varying measures-- both are detestable to the LORD. |
| 11Even a child is known by his deeds, Whether what he does is pure and right. | 11Even a young man is known by his actions-- if his behavior is pure and upright. |
| 12The hearing ear and the seeing eye, The LORD has made them both. | 12The hearing ear and the seeing eye-- the LORD made them both. |
| 13Do not love sleep, lest you come to poverty; Open your eyes, and you will be satisfied with bread. | 13Don't love sleep, or you will become poor; open your eyes, and you'll have enough to eat." |
| 14“It is good for nothing,” cries the buyer; But when he has gone his way, then he boasts. | 14It's worthless, it's worthless!" the buyer says, but after he is on his way, he gloats. |
| 15There is gold and a multitude of rubies, But the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel. | 15There is gold and a multitude of jewels, but knowledgeable lips are a rare treasure. |
| 16Take the garment of one who is surety for a stranger, And hold it as a pledge when it is for a seductress. | 16Take his garment, for he has put up security for a stranger; get collateral if it is for foreigners. |
| 17Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man, But afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel. | 17Food gained by fraud is sweet to a man, but afterward his mouth is full of gravel. |
| 18Plans are established by counsel; By wise counsel wage war. | 18Finalize plans with counsel, and wage war with sound guidance. |
| 19He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets; Therefore do not associate with one who flatters with his lips. | 19The one who reveals secrets is a constant gossip; avoid someone with a big mouth. |
| 20Whoever curses his father or his mother, His lamp will be put out in deep darkness. | 20Whoever curses his father or mother-- his lamp will go out in deep darkness. |
| 21An inheritance gained hastily at the beginning Will not be blessed at the end. | 21An inheritance gained prematurely will not be blessed ultimately. |
| 22Do not say, “I will recompense evil”; Wait for the LORD, and He will save you. | 22Don't say, "I will avenge this evil!" Wait on the LORD, and He will rescue you. |
| 23Diverse weights are an abomination to the LORD, And dishonest scales are not good. | 23Differing weights are detestable to the LORD, and dishonest scales are unfair. |
| 24A man’s steps are of the LORD; How then can a man understand his own way? | 24A man's steps are determined by the LORD, so how can anyone understand his own way? |
| 25It is a snare for a man to devote rashly something as holy, And afterward to reconsider his vows. | 25It is a trap for anyone to dedicate something rashly and later to reconsider his vows. |
| 26A wise king sifts out the wicked, And brings the threshing wheel over them. | 26A wise king separates out the wicked and drives the threshing wheel over them. |
| 27The spirit of a man is the lamp of the LORD, Searching all the inner depths of his heart. | 27The LORD's lamp sheds light on a person's life, searching the innermost parts. |
| 28Mercy and truth preserve the king, And by lovingkindness he upholds his throne. | 28Loyalty and faithfulness deliver a king; through loyalty he maintains his throne. |
| 29The glory of young men is their strength, And the splendor of old men is their gray head. | 29The glory of young men is their strength, and the splendor of old men is gray hair. |
| 30Blows that hurt cleanse away evil, As do stripes the inner depths of the heart. | 30Lashes and wounds purge away evil, and beatings cleanse the innermost parts. |
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