| New King James Version | New International Version |
| 1The preparations of the heart belong to man, But the answer of the tongue is from the LORD. | 1To humans belong the plans of the heart, but from the LORD comes the proper answer of the tongue. |
| 2All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, But the LORD weighs the spirits. | 2All a person's ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the LORD. |
| 3Commit your works to the LORD, And your thoughts will be established. | 3Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your plans. |
| 4The LORD has made all for Himself, Yes, even the wicked for the day of doom. | 4The LORD works out everything to its proper end-- even the wicked for a day of disaster. |
| 5Everyone proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD; Though they join forces, none will go unpunished. | 5The LORD detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished. |
| 6In mercy and truth Atonement is provided for iniquity; And by the fear of the LORD one departs from evil. | 6Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for; through the fear of the LORD evil is avoided. |
| 7When a man’s ways please the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. | 7When the LORD takes pleasure in anyone's way, he causes their enemies to make peace with them. |
| 8Better is a little with righteousness, Than vast revenues without justice. | 8Better a little with righteousness than much gain with injustice. |
| 9A man’s heart plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps. | 9In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps. |
| 10Divination is on the lips of the king; His mouth must not transgress in judgment. | 10The lips of a king speak as an oracle, and his mouth does not betray justice. |
| 11Honest weights and scales are the LORD’s; All the weights in the bag are His work. | 11Honest scales and balances belong to the LORD; all the weights in the bag are of his making. |
| 12It is an abomination for kings to commit wickedness, For a throne is established by righteousness. | 12Kings detest wrongdoing, for a throne is established through righteousness. |
| 13Righteous lips are the delight of kings, And they love him who speaks what is right. | 13Kings take pleasure in honest lips; they value the one who speaks what is right. |
| 14As messengers of death is the king’s wrath, But a wise man will appease it. | 14A king's wrath is a messenger of death, but the wise will appease it. |
| 15In the light of the king’s face is life, And his favor is like a cloud of the latter rain. | 15When a king's face brightens, it means life; his favor is like a rain cloud in spring. |
| 16How much better to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver. | 16How much better to get wisdom than gold, to get insight rather than silver! |
| 17The highway of the upright is to depart from evil; He who keeps his way preserves his soul. | 17The highway of the upright avoids evil; those who guard their ways preserve their lives. |
| 18Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall. | 18Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. |
| 19Better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, Than to divide the spoil with the proud. | 19Better to be lowly in spirit along with the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud. |
| 20He who heeds the word wisely will find good, And whoever trusts in the LORD, happy is he. | 20Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD. |
| 21The wise in heart will be called prudent, And sweetness of the lips increases learning. | 21The wise in heart are called discerning, and gracious words promote instruction. |
| 22Understanding is a wellspring of life to him who has it. But the correction of fools is folly. | 22Prudence is a fountain of life to the prudent, but folly brings punishment to fools. |
| 23The heart of the wise teaches his mouth, And adds learning to his lips. | 23The hearts of the wise make their mouths prudent, and their lips promote instruction. |
| 24Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, Sweetness to the soul and health to the bones. | 24Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. |
| 25There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death. | 25There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death. |
| 26The person who labors, labors for himself, For his hungry mouth drives him on. | 26The appetite of laborers works for them; their hunger drives them on. |
| 27An ungodly man digs up evil, And it is on his lips like a burning fire. | 27A scoundrel plots evil, and on their lips it is like a scorching fire. |
| 28A perverse man sows strife, And a whisperer separates the best of friends. | 28A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends. |
| 29A violent man entices his neighbor, And leads him in a way that is not good. | 29A violent person entices their neighbor and leads them down a path that is not good. |
| 30He winks his eye to devise perverse things; He purses his lips and brings about evil. | 30Whoever winks with their eye is plotting perversity; whoever purses their lips is bent on evil. |
| 31The silver-haired head is a crown of glory, If it is found in the way of righteousness. | 31Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained in the way of righteousness. |
| 32He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city. | 32Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city. |
| 33The lot is cast into the lap, But its every decision is from the LORD. | 33The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD. |
| The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. | New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. |
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