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VERSESCOPE

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Proverbs 23

Highlighted words differ from the WEB. Most differences are matters of wording, style or the age of the English, not of meaning; a few reflect different manuscripts.

  1. 1
    WEBWhen you sit to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before you;
    KJVWhen thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee:
  2. 2
    WEBput a knife to your throat if you are a man given to appetite.
    KJVAnd put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite.
  3. 3
    WEBDon’t be desirous of his dainties, since they are deceitful food.
    KJVBe not desirous of his dainties: for they are deceitful meat.
  4. 4
    WEBDon’t weary yourself to be rich. In your wisdom, show restraint.
    KJVLabour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom.
  5. 5
    WEBWhy do you set your eyes on that which is not? For it certainly sprouts wings like an eagle and flies in the sky.
    KJVWilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.
  6. 6
    WEBDon’t eat the food of him who has a stingy eye, and don’t crave his delicacies,
    KJVEat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainty meats:
  7. 7
    WEBfor as he thinks about the cost, so he is. “Eat and drink!” he says to you, but his heart is not with you.
    KJVFor as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.
  8. 8
    WEBYou will vomit up the morsel which you have eaten and waste your pleasant words.
    KJVThe morsel which thou hast eaten shalt thou vomit up, and lose thy sweet words.
  9. 9
    WEBDon’t speak in the ears of a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words.
    KJVSpeak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words.
  10. 10
    WEBDon’t move the ancient boundary stone. Don’t encroach on the fields of the fatherless,
    KJVRemove not the old landmark; and enter not into the fields of the fatherless:
  11. 11
    WEBfor their Defender is strong. He will plead their case against you.
    KJVFor their redeemer is mighty; he shall plead their cause with thee.
  12. 12
    WEBApply your heart to instruction, and your ears to the words of knowledge.
    KJVApply thine heart unto instruction, and thine ears to the words of knowledge.
  13. 13
    WEBDon’t withhold correction from a child. If you punish him with the rod, he will not die.
    KJVWithhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die.
  14. 14
    WEBPunish him with the rod, and save his soul from Sheol.
    KJVThou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.
  15. 15
    WEBMy son, if your heart is wise, then my heart will be glad, even mine.
    KJVMy son, if thine heart be wise, my heart shall rejoice, even mine.
  16. 16
    WEBYes, my heart will rejoice when your lips speak what is right.
    KJVYea, my reins shall rejoice, when thy lips speak right things.
  17. 17
    WEBDon’t let your heart envy sinners, but rather fear Yahweh all day long.
    KJVLet not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long.
  18. 18
    WEBIndeed surely there is a future hope, and your hope will not be cut off.
    KJVFor surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off.
  19. 19
    WEBListen, my son, and be wise, and keep your heart on the right path!
    KJVHear thou, my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way.
  20. 20
    WEBDon’t be among ones drinking too much wine, or those who gorge themselves on meat;
    KJVBe not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh:
  21. 21
    WEBfor the drunkard and the glutton shall become poor; and drowsiness clothes them in rags.
    KJVFor the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.
  22. 22
    WEBListen to your father who gave you life, and don’t despise your mother when she is old.
    KJVHearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old.
  23. 23
    WEBBuy the truth, and don’t sell it. Get wisdom, discipline, and understanding.
    KJVBuy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.
  24. 24
    WEBThe father of the righteous has great joy. Whoever fathers a wise child delights in him.
    KJVThe father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him.
  25. 25
    WEBLet your father and your mother be glad! Let her who bore you rejoice!
    KJVThy father and thy mother shall be glad, and she that bare thee shall rejoice.
  26. 26
    WEBMy son, give me your heart; and let your eyes keep in my ways.
    KJVMy son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.
  27. 27
    WEBFor a prostitute is a deep pit; and a wayward wife is a narrow well.
    KJVFor a whore is a deep ditch; and a strange woman is a narrow pit.
  28. 28
    WEBYes, she lies in wait like a robber, and increases the unfaithful among men.
    KJVShe also lieth in wait as for a prey, and increaseth the transgressors among men.
  29. 29
    WEBWho has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?
    KJVWho hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?
  30. 30
    WEBThose who stay long at the wine; those who go to seek out mixed wine.
    KJVThey that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.
  31. 31
    WEBDon’t look at the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly.
    KJVLook not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.
  32. 32
    WEBIn the end, it bites like a snake, and poisons like a viper.
    KJVAt the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.
  33. 33
    WEBYour eyes will see strange things, and your mind will imagine confusing things.
    KJVThine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things.
  34. 34
    WEBYes, you will be as he who lies down in the middle of the sea, or as he who lies on top of the rigging:
    KJVYea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast.
  35. 35
    WEB“They hit me, and I was not hurt! They beat me, and I don’t feel it! When will I wake up? I can do it again. I will look for more.”
    KJVThey have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.
  • World English Bible (WEB), public domain. “World English Bible” is a trademark of eBible.org.
  • King James Version (1769 text), public domain outside the United Kingdom, where Crown letters patent apply.