New King James Version | International Standard Version |
1Better is a dry morsel with quietness, Than a house full of feasting with strife. | 1Dry crumbs in peace are better than a full meal with strife. |
2A wise servant will rule over a son who causes shame, And will share an inheritance among the brothers. | 2A prudent servant will rule in place of a disgraceful son and will share in the inheritance among 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 for gold— but the LORD assays hearts. |
4An evildoer gives heed to false lips; A liar listens eagerly to a spiteful tongue. | 4Whoever practices evil pays attention to wicked speech, and the liar listens to malicious talk. |
5He who mocks the poor reproaches his Maker; He who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished. | 5Whoever mocks the poor shows contempt for their maker, and whoever is happy about disaster 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 pride of children is their parents. |
7Excellent speech is not becoming to a fool, Much less lying lips to a prince. | 7Appropriate speech is inconsistent with the fool; how much more are deceitful statements with a prince! |
8A present is a precious stone in the eyes of its possessor; Wherever he turns, he prospers. | 8A bribe works wonders in the eyes of its giver; wherever he turns he prospers. |
9He who covers a transgression seeks love, But he who repeats a matter separates friends. | 9Anyone who overlooks an offense promotes love, but someone who gossips separates close friends. |
10Rebuke is more effective for a wise man Than a hundred blows on a fool. | 10A rebuke is more effective with a man of understanding than a hundred lashes to a fool. |
11An evil man seeks only rebellion; Therefore a cruel messenger will be sent against him. | 11A rebellious person seeks evil; a cruel emissary will be sent to oppose him. |
12Let a man meet a bear robbed of her cubs, Rather than a fool in his folly. | 12It's better to meet a mother bear who has lost her cubs than a fool in his stupidity. |
13Whoever rewards evil for good, Evil will not depart from his house. | 13The person who repays good with evil will never see evil leave his home. |
14The beginning of strife is like releasing water; Therefore stop contention before a quarrel starts. | 14Starting a quarrel is like spilling water— so drop the dispute before it escalates. |
15He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the just, Both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD. | 15Exonerating the wicked and condemning the righteous are both detestable to the LORD. |
16Why is there in the hand of a fool the purchase price of wisdom, Since he has no heart for it? | 16What is this? A fool has enough money to buy wisdom, but is senseless? |
17A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity. | 17A friend loves at all times, and a brother is there for times of trouble. |
18A man devoid of understanding shakes hands in a pledge, And becomes surety for his friend. | 18A man who lacks sense cosigns a loan, becoming a guarantor for his neighbor. |
19He who loves transgression loves strife, And he who exalts his gate seeks destruction. | 19The person who loves transgression loves strife; the person who builds a high gate invites destruction. |
20He who has a deceitful heart finds no good, And he who has a perverse tongue falls into evil. | 20The person whose mind is perverse does not find good, and anyone with perverted speech falls into trouble. |
21He who begets a scoffer does so to his sorrow, And the father of a fool has no joy. | 21The man who fathers a fool does so to his sorrow— 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 broken spirit drains one's strength. |
23A wicked man accepts a bribe behind the back To pervert the ways of justice. | 23The wicked man takes a bribe in secret in order to pervert the course 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. | 24A person with understanding has wisdom as his objective, but a fool looks only to earthly goals. |
25A foolish son is a grief to his father, And bitterness to her who bore him. | 25A foolish son brings grief to his father and bitterness to his mother. |
26Also, to punish the righteous is not good, Nor to strike princes for their uprightness. | 26Furthermore, it isn't good to fine the righteous, or to beat an official because of his uprightness. |
27He who has knowledge spares his words, And a man of understanding is of a calm spirit. | 27Whoever controls what he says is knowledgeable; anyone who has a calm 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 is thought to be wise when he remains silent; he is thought to be prudent when he keeps his mouth shut. |
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. | The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. |
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