| 1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. | 1 Wine is arrogant, strong drink is riotous; none who goes astray for it is wise. |
| 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 dread of the king is as when a lion roars; he who incurs his anger forfeits his life. |
| 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 shun strife, while every fool starts a quarrel. |
| 4 The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing. | 4 In seedtime the sluggard plows not; when he looks for the harvest, it is not there. |
| 5 Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out. | 5 The intention in the human heart is like water far below the surface, but the man of intelligence draws it forth. |
| 6 Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find? | 6 Many are declared to be men of virtue: but who can find one worthy of trust? |
| 7 The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him. | 7 When a man walks in integrity and justice, happy are his children after him! |
| 8 A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes. | 8 A king seated on the throne of judgment dispels all evil with his glance. |
| 9 Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin? | 9 Who can say, "I have made my heart clean, I am cleansed of my sin"? |
| 10 Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the LORD. | 10 Varying weights, varying measures, are both an abomination to the LORD. |
| 11 Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right. | 11 Even by his manners the child betrays whether his conduct is innocent and right. |
| 12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them. | 12 The ear that hears, and the eye that sees-- the LORD has made them both. |
| 13 Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread. | 13 Love not sleep, lest you be reduced to poverty; eyes wide open mean abundant food. |
| 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 once he has gone his way, he boasts. |
| 15 There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel. | 15 Like gold or a wealth of corals, wise lips are a precious ornament. |
| 16 Take his garment that is surety for a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman. | 16 Take his garment who becomes surety for another, and for strangers yield it up! |
| 17 Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel. | 17 The bread of deceit is sweet to a man, but afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel. |
| 18 Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war. | 18 Plans made after advice succeed; so with wise guidance wage your war. |
| 19 He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips. | 19 A newsmonger reveals secrets; so have nothing to do with a babbler! |
| 20 Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness. | 20 If one curses his father or mother, his lamp will go out at the coming of darkness. |
| 21 An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed. | 21 Possessions gained hastily at the outset will in the end not be blessed. |
| 22 Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee. | 22 Say not, "I will repay evil!" Trust in the LORD and he will help you. |
| 23 Divers weights are an abomination unto the LORD; and a false balance is not good. | 23 Varying weights are an abomination to the LORD, and false scales are not good. |
| 24 Man's goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way? | 24 Man's steps are from the LORD; how, then, can a man understand his way? |
| 25 It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after vows to make inquiry. | 25 Rashly to pledge a sacred gift is a trap for a man, or to regret a vow once made. |
| 26 A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them. | 26 A wise king winnows the wicked, and threshes them under the cartwheel. |
| 27 The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly. | 27 A lamp from the LORD is the breath of man; it searches through all his inmost being. |
| 28 Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy. | 28 Kindness and piety safeguard the king, and he upholds his throne by justice. |
| 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 dignity of old men is gray hair. |
| 30 The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly. | 30 Evil is cleansed away by bloody lashes, and a scourging to the inmost being. |