1 ¶ Whosoever goes astray seeks according to his own lust and shall meddle with every doctrine.

He who stays away from others cares only about himself. He argues against all good wisdom.

2 ¶ A fool has no delight in understanding, but in that which his own heart discovers.

A fool does not find joy in understanding, but only in letting his own mind be known.

3 ¶ When the wicked comes, then comes also contempt, and with him who dishonours, reproach.

When a sinful man comes, hate comes also, and where there is no honor, there is shame.

4 ¶ The words of a man’s mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook.

The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters. Wisdom comes like a flowing river making a pleasant noise.

5 ¶ To respect the person of the wicked so that the righteous loses that which is rightfully his is not good.

It is not good to favor the sinful, or to keep what is fair from one who is right with God.

6 ¶ A fool’s lips enter into contention, and his mouth calls for strokes.

The lips of a fool bring fighting, and his mouth calls for a beating.

7 A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.

The mouth of a fool is what destroys him, and his lips are a trap to his soul.

8 ¶ The words of a talebearer seem smooth, but they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

The words of one who speaks about others in secret are like tempting bites of food. They go down into the inside parts of the body.

9 ¶ He also that is negligent in his work is brother to him that is the great spendthrift.

He who is lazy in his work is a brother to him who destroys.

10 ¶ The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous shall run into it, and be raised up.

The name of the Lord is a strong tower. The man who does what is right runs into it and is safe.

11 ¶ The rich man’s wealth is his strong city and as a high wall in his imagination.

The rich man’s money is his strong city, and he thinks it is like a high wall.

12 ¶ Before being broken, the heart of man is haughty, and before coming into honour, comes being brought to humility.

The heart of a man is proud before he is destroyed, but having no pride goes before honor.

13 ¶ For him that answers a word before he hears, it is folly and reproach unto him.

If one gives an answer before he hears, it makes him foolish and ashamed.

14 ¶ The spirit of man will bear his infirmity, but a broken spirit who can bear?

The spirit of a man can help him through his sickness, but who can carry a broken spirit?

15 ¶ The heart of the man of understanding acquires wisdom, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.

An understanding mind gets much learning, and the ear of the wise listens for much learning.

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

A man’s gift makes room for him, and brings him in front of great men.

17 ¶ The one who is just is first in his cause, his adversary comes and seeks him out.

He who tells his story first makes people think he is right, until the other comes to test him.

18 ¶ The lot causes contentions to cease and decides between the mighty.

Throwing an object to decide puts an end to arguing. It keeps powerful men from fighting.

19 ¶ A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city, and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.

A brother who has been hurt in his spirit is harder to be won than a strong city, and arguing is like the iron gates of a king’s house.

20 ¶ A man’s belly shall be filled with the fruit of his mouth, and with the product of his lips shall he be filled.

A man’s stomach will be filled with the fruit of his mouth. He will be filled with what his lips speak.

21 ¶ Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those that love it shall eat its fruit.

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

22 ¶ Whosoever found a wife found a good thing and has attained the favour of the LORD.

He who finds a wife finds a good thing, and gets favor from the Lord.

23 ¶ The poor uses intreaties, but the rich answer roughly.

The poor man asks for loving-kindness, but the rich man is hard in his answers.

24 ¶ The man that has friends must show himself to be a friend, and there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother.

A man who has friends must be a friend, but there is a friend who stays nearer than a brother.