1 Wine is mocking, strong drink is noisy: and every one going astray by it will not be 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, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby 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 terror of the king growling as the young lion: he overflowing against him sinned against his 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 The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.

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 Honor to a man ceasing from strife: and every foolish one will be irritated.

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

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

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 slothful one reproaching will not work: he shall ask in harvest, and nothing.

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

4 The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have 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 Deep waters are counsel in the heart of man; and 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 the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw 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 The multitude of man will call each his mercy: and a man of faithfulness who shall find?

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

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

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 The just one going about in his integrity: his sons happy after him.

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

7 The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed 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 The king shall sit upon the throne of judgment scattering with his eyes all evil.

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

8 A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment scattereth away 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 shall say, I cleansed my heart; I was 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 made my heart clean, 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 A stone and stone, an ephah and ephah, an abomination of Jehovah, also they two.

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

10 Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination 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 Also a youth shall be known by his doings, if pure and straight his work.

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

11 Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be 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, Jehovah made, also them two.

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 hath made even 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 Thou shalt not love sleep lest thou shalt be dispossessed: open wide thine eyes, being filled 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 Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.

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 Evil, evil, he buying will say: and departing to him, and then he will boast

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

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

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 multitude of pearls: and a precious vessel the lips of knowledge.

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 rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.

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 his garment that became surety for a stranger: and bind him by a pledge for strange women.

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

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

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 falsehood is sweet to a man; and afterward 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 Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall 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 The purpose shall be prepared by counsel, and with guidance make war.

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

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

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 revealing a secret going about tale-bearing: and thou shalt not intermingle with him embracing his lips.

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

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

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 He cursing his father and his mother, his lamp shall go out in the midst of darkness.

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

20 Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure 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 An inheritance greedily gotten in the beginning; and its latter state shall not be

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

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

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 Thou shalt not say, I will requite evil; wait for Jehovah, he will save to thee.

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

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

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 An abomination of Jehovah stone and stone; and the balance of deceit is not good.

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

23 Divers weights are an abomination unto the LORD; and a false balance 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 From Jehovah man's steps; and how shall man understand his way?

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

24 Man's goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own 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 The snare of man swallowing down the holy thing, after the vows for seeking.

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 snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after 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 scatters the unjust, and he will turn back a wheel over them.

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

26 A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the 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 light of Jehovah is the breath of man, searching all the chambers 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 spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.

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 truth shall guard the king: and his throne he upheld in mercy.

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

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

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 their strength: and the ornament of old men gray hair.

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 beauty of old men is the gray head.

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 The joining of a wound will cleanse against evil: and blows the chambers of the belly.

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

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

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.

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

International Standard Version Copyright © 1996-2008 by the ISV Foundation.

King James Version Public Domain

New American Standard Bible Copyright ©1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org