Chapter text
World English Bible
Verse-by-verse text with stable anchors, canonical chapter URLs, and copyable verse links.
- 1 Wine is a mocker and beer is a brawler. Whoever is led astray by them is not wise.
- 2 The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion. He who provokes him to anger forfeits his own life.
- 3 It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarreling.
- 4 The sluggard will not plow by reason of the winter; therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.
- 5 Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out.
- 6 Many men claim to be men of unfailing love, but who can find a faithful man?
- 7 A righteous man walks in integrity. Blessed are his children after him.
- 8 A king who sits on the throne of judgment scatters away all evil with his eyes.
- 9 Who can say, “I have made my heart pure. I am clean and without sin”?
- 10 Differing weights and differing measures, both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.
- 11 Even a child makes himself known by his doings, whether his work is pure, and whether it is right.
- 12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD has made even both of them.
- 13 Don’t love sleep, lest you come to poverty. Open your eyes, and you shall be satisfied with bread.
- 14 “It’s no good, it’s no good,” says the buyer; but when he is gone his way, then he boasts.
- 15 There is gold and abundance of rubies, but the lips of knowledge are a rare jewel.
- 16 Take the garment of one who puts up collateral for a stranger; and hold him in pledge for a wayward woman.
- 17 Fraudulent food is sweet to a man, but afterwards his mouth is filled with gravel.
- 18 Plans are established by advice; by wise guidance you wage war!
- 19 He who goes about as a tale-bearer reveals secrets; therefore don’t keep company with him who opens wide his lips.
- 20 Whoever curses his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness.
- 21 An inheritance quickly gained at the beginning won’t be blessed in the end.
- 22 Don’t say, “I will pay back evil.” Wait for the LORD, and he will save you.
- 23 The LORD detests differing weights, and dishonest scales are not pleasing.
- 24 A man’s steps are from the LORD; how then can man understand his way?
- 25 It is a snare to a man to make a rash dedication, then later to consider his vows.
- 26 A wise king winnows out the wicked, and drives the threshing wheel over them.
- 27 The spirit of man is the LORD’s lamp, searching all his innermost parts.
- 28 Love and faithfulness keep the king safe. His throne is sustained by love.
- 29 The glory of young men is their strength. The splendor of old men is their gray hair.
- 30 Wounding blows cleanse away evil, and beatings purge the innermost parts.