Add parallel Print Page Options

10 A rebuke goes deeper to an understanding person
    than a hundred lashes to a fool.
11 Evil people seek only rebellion;
    a cruel messenger will be sent against them.

Read full chapter

10 A rebuke impresses a discerning person
    more than a hundred lashes a fool.

11 Evildoers foster rebellion against God;
    the messenger of death will be sent against them.

Read full chapter

20 Listen to advice and accept instruction,
    so you might grow wise in the future.

Read full chapter

20 Listen to advice and accept discipline,(A)
    and at the end you will be counted among the wise.(B)

Read full chapter

27 If, my child, you stop listening to discipline,
    you will wander away from words of knowledge.

Read full chapter

27 Stop listening to instruction, my son,(A)
    and you will stray from the words of knowledge.

Read full chapter

A king is as terrifying as a lion’s growl.
    Those who anger him may lose their life.

Read full chapter

A king’s wrath strikes terror like the roar of a lion;(A)
    those who anger him forfeit their lives.(B)

Read full chapter

Many people will say that they are loyal,
    but who can find a reliable person?

Read full chapter

Many claim to have unfailing love,
    but a faithful person who can find?(A)

Read full chapter

A king who sits on his judgment throne
    sifts out all evil with his eyes.

Read full chapter

When a king sits on his throne to judge,(A)
    he winnows out all evil with his eyes.(B)

Read full chapter

11 Even young people are known by their actions,
    whether their conduct is pure and upright.

Read full chapter

11 Even small children are known by their actions,
    so is their conduct really pure(A) and upright?

Read full chapter

30 Blows and bruises remove evil;
    beatings cleanse the inner parts.

Read full chapter

30 Blows and wounds scrub(A) away evil,
    and beatings(B) purge the inmost being.

Read full chapter

21 The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord;
    he directs it wherever he wants.

Read full chapter

21 In the Lord’s hand the king’s heart is a stream of water
    that he channels toward all who please him.(A)

Read full chapter

11 Those who love a pure heart—
    their speech is gracious, and the king is their friend.

Read full chapter

11 One who loves a pure heart and who speaks with grace
    will have the king for a friend.(A)

Read full chapter

It is the glory of God to hide something
    and the glory of kings to discover something.
Like the high heavens and the depths of the earth,
    so the mind of a king is unsearchable.

Remove the dross from the silver,
    and a vessel will come out for the refiner.
Remove the wicked from the king’s presence,
    and his throne will be established in righteousness.

Don’t exalt yourself in the presence of the king,
    or stand in the place of important people,
    because it is better that he say to you,
    “Come up here,”
    than to be demoted before a ruler.

What your eyes see,

Read full chapter

It is the glory of God to conceal a matter;
    to search out a matter is the glory of kings.(A)
As the heavens are high and the earth is deep,
    so the hearts of kings are unsearchable.

Remove the dross from the silver,
    and a silversmith can produce a vessel;
remove wicked officials from the king’s presence,(B)
    and his throne will be established(C) through righteousness.(D)

Do not exalt yourself in the king’s presence,
    and do not claim a place among his great men;
it is better for him to say to you, “Come up here,”(E)
    than for him to humiliate you before his nobles.

What you have seen with your eyes

Read full chapter

18 Those who tend a fig tree will eat its fruit,
    and those who look after their master will be honored.

Read full chapter

18 The one who guards a fig tree will eat its fruit,(A)
    and whoever protects their master will be honored.(B)

Read full chapter