1 Wine makes men foolish, and strong drink makes men come to blows; and whoever comes into error through these is not wise.

1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.

1 (A)Wine is a mocker, (B)strong drink a brawler,And whoever (a)is intoxicated by it is not wise.

1 Wine is a mocker,(A) beer is a brawler,and whoever staggers because of them is not wise.

1 Wine causes mocking, and beer causes fights; everyone led astray by them lacks wisdom.

2 The wrath of a king is like the loud cry of a lion: he who makes him angry does wrong against himself.

2 The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.

2 The terror of a king is like the growling of a lion;He who provokes him to anger (b)(C)forfeits his own life.

2 A king’s terrible wrath is like the roaring of a lion;anyone who provokes him endangers himself.(B)

2 A king's anger is like a lion's roar; anyone who angers him forfeits his life.

3 It is an honour for a man to keep from fighting, but the foolish are ever at war.

3 It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.

3 (c)(D)Keeping away from strife is an honor for a man,But any fool will (d)quarrel.

3 It is honorable for a man to resolve a dispute,(C)but any fool can get himself into a quarrel.(D)

3 Avoiding strife brings a man honor, but every fool is quarrelsome.

4 The hater of work will not do his ploughing because of the winter; so at the time of grain-cutting he will be requesting food and will get nothing.

4 The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.

4 The (E)sluggard does not plow after the autumn,So he (e)begs during the harvest and has nothing.

4 The slacker does not plow during planting season;(a)at harvest time he looks,(b) and there is nothing.(E)

4 A lazy person doesn't plow in the proper season; he looks for a harvest, but there is nothing.

5 The purpose in the heart of a man is like deep water, but a man of good sense will get it out.

5 Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.

5 A plan in the heart of a man is like deep water,But a man of understanding draws it out.

5 Counsel in a man’s heart is deep water;(F)but a man of understanding draws it out.

5 The intentions of a person's heart are deep waters, but a discerning person reveals them.

6 Most men make no secret of their kind acts: but where is a man of good faith to be seen?

6 Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?

6 Many a man (F)proclaims his own loyalty,But who can find a (G)trustworthy man?

6 Many a man proclaims his own loyalty,but who can find a trustworthy man?(G)

6 Many claim "I'm a loyal person!" but who can find someone who truly is?

7 An upright man goes on in his righteousness: happy are his children after him!

7 The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.

7 A righteous man who (H)walks in his integrity—(I)How blessed are his sons after him.

7 The one who lives with integrity is righteous;(H)his children(c) who come after him will be happy.(I)

7 The righteous person lives a life of integrity; happy are his children who follow him!

8 A king on the seat of judging puts to flight all evil with his eyes.

8 A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.

8 (J)A king who sits on the throne of justice(f)Disperses all evil with his eyes.

8 A king sitting on a throne to judgesifts out all evil with his eyes.(J)

8 A king sits on a throne of justice, sifting out all sorts of evil with his glance.

9 Who is able to say, I have made my heart clean, I am free from my sin?

9 Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?

9 (K)Who can say, “I have cleansed my heart,I am pure from my sin”?

9 Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure;I am cleansed from my sin”?(K)

9 Who can say, "My intentions are pure; I am clean from any sin?"

10 Unequal weights and unequal measures, they are all disgusting to the Lord.

10 Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the LORD.

10 (g)(L)Differing weights and differing measures,Both of them are abominable to the Lord.

10 Differing weights and varying measures(d)both are detestable to the Lord.(L)

10 False weights and measures the LORD surely detests both of them.

11 Even a child may be judged by his doings, if his work is free from sin and if it is right.

11 Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.

11 It is by his deeds that a lad (h)(M)distinguishes himselfIf his conduct is pure and right.

11 Even a young man is known by his actions—if his behavior is pure and upright.(M)

11 Even a child is known by his actions, whether his deeds are pure and right.

12 The hearing ear and the seeing eye are equally the Lord's work.

12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them.

12 The hearing (N)ear and the seeing eye,The Lord has made both of them.

12 The hearing ear and the seeing eye—the Lord made them both.(N)

12 The ear that hears and the eye that sees the LORD surely made them both.

13 Do not be a lover of sleep, or you will become poor: keep your eyes open, and you will have bread enough.

13 Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.

13 (O)Do not love sleep, or you will become poor;Open your eyes, and you will be satisfied with (i)food.

13 Don’t love sleep, or you will become poor;open your eyes, and you’ll have enough to eat.(O)

13 Do not love sleep or you'll become poor, keep your eyes open and you'll have plenty of food.

14 A poor thing, a poor thing, says he who is giving money for goods: but when he has gone on his way, then he makes clear his pride in what he has got.

14 It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.

14 “Bad, bad,” says the buyer,But when he goes his way, then he boasts.

14 “It’s worthless, it’s worthless!” the buyer says,but after he is on his way, he gloats.

14 "This is bad, bad," says whoever is buying but then he brags as he walks away after the sale.

15 There is gold and a store of corals: but the lips of knowledge are a jewel of great price.

15 There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.

15 There is gold, and an abundance of (j)jewels;But the lips of knowledge are a more precious thing.

15 There is gold and a multitude of jewels,but knowledgeable lips are a rare treasure.(P)

15 There is an abundance of gold and precious stones, but lips of knowledge are a rare jewel.

16 Take a man's clothing if he makes himself responsible for a strange man, and get an undertaking from him who gives his word for strange men.

16 Take his garment that is surety for a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.

16 Take his garment when he becomes surety for a stranger;And for foreigners, hold him in pledge.

16 Take his garment,(e)for he has put up security for a stranger;get collateral if it is for foreigners.(Q)

16 Take the garment of anyone who puts up collateral for a stranger; hold it in pledge if he does it for an unfamiliar woman.

17 Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but after, his mouth will be full of sand.

17 Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.

17 (P)Bread obtained by falsehood is sweet to a man,But afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel.

17 Food gained by fraud is sweet to a man,(R)but afterward his mouth is full of gravel.

17 Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man, but later his mouth will be full of gravel.

18 Every purpose is put into effect by wise help: and by wise guiding make war.

18 Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.

18 Prepare (Q)plans by consultation,And (R)make war by wise guidance.

18 Finalize plans with counsel,(S)and wage war with sound guidance.(T)

18 Make plans by seeking advice; make war by obtaining guidance.

19 He who goes about talking of the business of others gives away secrets: so have nothing to do with him whose lips are open wide.

19 He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.

19 He who (S)goes about as a slanderer reveals secrets,Therefore do not associate with (k)(T)a gossip.

19 The one who reveals secrets is a constant gossip;(U)avoid someone with a big mouth.(V)

19 Whoever spreads gossip betrays confidences; so don't get involved with someone who talks too much.

20 If anyone puts a curse on his father or his mother, his light will be put out in the blackest night.

20 Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.

20 He who (U)curses his father or his mother,His (V)lamp will go out in (l)time of darkness.

20 Whoever curses his father or mother(W)his lamp will go out in deep darkness.(X)

20 Whoever curses his father or mother, his lamp will be extinguished in the deepest darkness.

21 A heritage may be got quickly at first, but the end of it will not be a blessing.

21 An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.

21 An inheritance gained hurriedly at the beginningWill not be blessed in the end.

21 An inheritance gained prematurelywill not be blessed ultimately.(Y)

21 An inheritance quickly obtained at the beginning will not be blessed at the end.

22 Do not say, I will give punishment for evil: go on waiting for the Lord, and he will be your saviour.

22 Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.

22 (W)Do not say, “I will repay evil”;(X)Wait for the Lord, and He will save you.

22 Don’t say, “I will avenge this evil!”(Z)Wait on the Lord,(AA) and He will rescue you.(AB)

22 Don't say "I'll avenge that wrong!" Wait on the LORD and he will deliver you.

23 Unequal weights are disgusting to the Lord, and false scales are not good.

23 Divers weights are an abomination unto the LORD; and a false balance is not good.

23 (m)(Y)Differing weights are an abomination to the Lord,And a (n)(Z)false scale is not good.

23 Differing weights(f) are detestable to the Lord,(AC)and dishonest scales(AD) are unfair.

23 The LORD detests differing weights, and dishonest scales are not good.

24 A man's steps are of the Lord; how then may a man have knowledge of his way?

24 Man's goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way?

24 (AA)Man’s steps are ordained by the Lord,How then can man understand his way?

24 A man’s steps are determined by the Lord,(AE)so how can anyone understand his own way?

24 A man's steps are directed by the LORD; how then can anyone understand his own way?

25 It is a danger to a man to say without thought, It is holy, and, after taking his oaths, to be questioning if it is necessary to keep them.

25 It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after vows to make inquiry.

25 It is a trap for a man to say rashly, “It is holy!”And (AB)after the vows to make inquiry.

25 It is a trap for anyone to dedicate something rashlyand later to reconsider his vows.(AF)

25 It is a trap for a person to declare quickly, "This is sacred," and only later to have second thoughts about the vows.

26 A wise king puts evil-doers to flight, and makes their evil-doing come back on them.

26 A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them.

26 A (AC)wise king winnows the wicked,And (o)drives the (AD)threshing wheel over them.

26 A wise king separates out the wicked(AG)and drives the threshing wheel(AH) over them.

26 A wise king sifts the wicked, crushing them with the threshing wheel.

27 The Lord keeps watch over the spirit of man, searching all the deepest parts of the body.

27 The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.

27 The (p)(AE)spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord,Searching all the (q)innermost parts of his being.

27 The Lord’s lamp sheds light on a person’s life,(g)searching the innermost parts.(h)(AI)

27 A person's spirit is the lamp of the LORD; it searches throughout one's innermost being.

28 Mercy and good faith keep the king safe, and the seat of his power is based on upright acts.

28 Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy.

28 (r)Loyalty and (AF)truth preserve the king,And he upholds his throne by (s)righteousness.

28 Loyalty and faithfulness deliver a king;through loyalty he maintains his throne.

28 Gracious love and truth preserve a king; through love his throne is made secure.

29 The glory of young men is their strength, and the honour of old men is their grey hairs.

29 The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the gray head.

29 The glory of young men is their strength,And the (t)(AG)honor of old men is their gray hair.

29 The glory of young men is their strength,and the splendor of old men is gray hair.(AJ)

29 The glory of young men is their strength; and the splendor of elders is their gray hair.

30 By the wounds of the rod evil is taken away, and blows make clean the deepest parts of the body.

30 The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly.

30 (AH)Stripes that wound scour away evil,And strokes reach the (u)innermost parts.

30 Lashes and wounds purge away evil,(AK)and beatings cleanse the innermost parts.(i) >

30 Blows that wound clean away evil; such beatings cleanse the innermost being.

Basic English, produced by Mr C. K. Ogden of the Orthological Institute - public domain

Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers.

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