1 H e who willfully separates and estranges himself seeks his own desire and pretext to break out against all wise and sound judgment.

For desire he who is separated doth seek, With all wisdom he intermeddleth.

2 A fool has no delight in understanding but only in revealing his personal opinions and himself.

A fool delighteth not in understanding, But -- in uncovering his heart.

3 W hen the wicked comes in, he becomes a contemptuous despiser, and with inner baseness comes outer shame and reproach.

With the coming of the wicked come also hath contempt, And with shame -- reproach.

4 T he words of a man’s mouth are like deep waters, and the fountain of skillful and godly Wisdom is like a gushing stream.

Deep waters the words of a man's mouth, The fountain of wisdom a flowing brook.

5 T o respect the person of the wicked and be partial to him, so as to deprive the righteous of justice, is not good.

Acceptance of the face of the wicked not good, To turn aside the righteous in judgment.

6 A fool’s lips bring contention, and his mouth invites a beating.

The lips of a fool enter into strife, And his mouth for stripes calleth.

7 A fool’s mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to himself.

The mouth of a fool ruin to him, And his lips the snare of his soul.

8 T he words of a whisperer or talebearer are as dainty morsels; they go down into the innermost parts of the body.

The words of a tale-bearer as self-inflicted wounds, And they have gone down the inner parts of the heart.

9 H e who is loose and slack in his work is brother to him who is a destroyer and he who does not use his endeavors to heal himself is brother to him who commits suicide.

He also that is remiss in his work, A brother he to a destroyer.

10 T he name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe, high and strong.

A tower of strength the name of Jehovah, Into it the righteous runneth, and is set on high.

11 T he rich man’s wealth is his strong city, and as a high protecting wall in his own imagination and conceit.

The wealth of the rich the city of his strength, And as a wall set on high in his own imagination.

12 H aughtiness comes before disaster, but humility before honor.

Before destruction the heart of man is high, And before honour humility.

13 H e who answers a matter before he hears the facts—it is folly and shame to him.

Whoso is answering a matter before he heareth, Folly it is to him and shame.

14 T he strong spirit of a man sustains him in bodily pain or trouble, but a weak and broken spirit who can raise up or bear?

The spirit of a man sustaineth his sickness, And a smitten spirit who doth bear?

15 T he mind of the prudent is ever getting knowledge, and the ear of the wise is ever seeking (inquiring for and craving) knowledge.

The heart of the intelligent getteth knowledge, And the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.

16 A man’s gift makes room for him and brings him before great men.

The gift of a man maketh room for him, And before the great it leadeth him.

17 H e who states his case first seems right, until his rival comes and cross-examines him.

Righteous the first in his own cause, His neighbour cometh and hath searched him.

18 T o cast lots puts an end to disputes and decides between powerful contenders.

The lot causeth contentions to cease, And between the mighty it separateth.

19 A brother offended is harder to be won over than a strong city, and contentions separate them like the bars of a castle.

A brother transgressed against is as a strong city, And contentions as the bar of a palace.

20 A man’s self shall be filled with the fruit of his mouth; and with the consequence of his words he must be satisfied.

From the fruit of a man's mouth is his belly satisfied, increase of his lips he is satisfied.

21 D eath and life are in the power of the tongue, and they who indulge in it shall eat the fruit of it.

Death and life in the power of the tongue, And those loving it eat its fruit.

22 H e who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord.

hath found a wife hath found good, And bringeth out good-will from Jehovah.

23 T he poor man uses entreaties, but the rich answers roughly.

supplications doth the poor speak, And the rich answereth fierce things.

24 T he man of many friends will prove himself a bad friend, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

A man with friends to show himself friendly, And there is a lover adhering more than a brother!