| New King James Version | NET Bible |
| 1Wine is a mocker, Strong drink is a brawler, And whoever is led astray by it is not wise. | 1Wine is a mocker and strong drink is a brawler; whoever goes astray by 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. | 2The king's terrifying anger is like the roar of a lion; whoever provokes him sins against himself. |
| 3It is honorable for a man to stop striving, Since any fool can start a quarrel. | 3It is an honor for a person to cease from strife, but every fool quarrels. |
| 4The lazy man will not plow because of winter; He will beg during harvest and have nothing. | 4The sluggard will not plow during the planting season, so at harvest time he looks for the crop but has nothing. |
| 5Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water, But a man of understanding will draw it out. | 5Counsel in a person's heart is like deep water, but an understanding person draws it out. |
| 6Most men will proclaim each his own goodness, But who can find a faithful man? | 6Many people profess their loyalty, but a faithful person--who can find? |
| 7The righteous man walks in his integrity; His children are blessed after him. | 7The righteous person behaves in integrity; blessed are his children after him. |
| 8A king who sits on the throne of judgment Scatters all evil with his eyes. | 8A king sitting on the throne to judge separates 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 clean; I am pure from my sin"? |
| 10Diverse weights and diverse measures, They are both alike, an abomination to the LORD. | 10Diverse weights and diverse measures--the LORD abhors both of them. |
| 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, whether his activity is pure and whether it is right. |
| 12The hearing ear and the seeing eye, The LORD has made them both. | 12The ear that hears and the eye that sees--the LORD has made them both. |
| 13Do not love sleep, lest you come to poverty; Open your eyes, and you will be satisfied with bread. | 13Do not love sleep, lest you become impoverished; open your eyes so that you might be satisfied with food. |
| 14“It is good for nothing,” cries the buyer; But when he has gone his way, then he boasts. | 14"It's worthless! It's worthless!" says the buyer, but when he goes on his way, he boasts. |
| 15There is gold and a multitude of rubies, But the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel. | 15There is gold, and an abundance of rubies, but words of knowledge are like a precious jewel. |
| 16Take the garment of one who is surety for a stranger, And hold it as a pledge when it is for a seductress. | 16Take a man's garment when he has given security for a stranger, and when he gives surety for strangers, hold him in pledge. |
| 17Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man, But afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel. | 17Bread gained by deceit tastes sweet to a person, but afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel. |
| 18Plans are established by counsel; By wise counsel wage war. | 18Plans are established by counsel, so make war with guidance. |
| 19He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets; Therefore do not associate with one who flatters with his lips. | 19The one who goes about gossiping reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with someone who is always opening his mouth. |
| 20Whoever curses his father or his mother, His lamp will be put out in deep darkness. | 20The one who curses his father and his mother, his lamp will be extinguished in the blackest darkness. |
| 21An inheritance gained hastily at the beginning Will not be blessed at the end. | 21An inheritance gained easily in the beginning will not be blessed in the end. |
| 22Do not say, “I will recompense evil”; Wait for the LORD, and He will save you. | 22Do not say, "I will pay back evil!" Wait for the LORD, so that he may vindicate you. |
| 23Diverse weights are an abomination to the LORD, And dishonest scales are not good. | 23The LORD abhors differing weights, and dishonest scales are wicked. |
| 24A man’s steps are of the LORD; How then can a man understand his own way? | 24The steps of a person are ordained 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 snare for a person to rashly cry, "Holy!" and only afterward to consider what he has vowed. |
| 26A wise king sifts out the wicked, And brings the threshing wheel over them. | 26A wise king separates out the wicked; he turns 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 human spirit is like the lamp of the LORD, searching all his innermost parts. |
| 28Mercy and truth preserve the king, And by lovingkindness he upholds his throne. | 28Loyal love and truth preserve a king, and his throne is upheld by loyal love. |
| 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. | 30Beatings and wounds cleanse away evil, and floggings cleanse the innermost being. |
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