1 A n unfriendly man pursues selfishness, and defies all sound judgment.

A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire; He rages against all wise judgment.

2 A fool has no delight in understanding, but only in revealing his own opinion.

A fool has no delight in understanding, But in expressing his own heart.

3 W hen wickedness comes, contempt also comes, and with shame comes disgrace.

When the wicked comes, contempt comes also; And with dishonor comes reproach.

4 T he words of a man’s mouth are like deep waters. The fountain of wisdom is like a flowing brook.

The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters; The wellspring of wisdom is a flowing brook.

5 T o be partial to the faces of the wicked is not good, nor to deprive the innocent of justice.

It is not good to show partiality to the wicked, Or to overthrow the righteous in judgment.

6 A fool’s lips come into strife, and his mouth invites beatings.

A fool’s lips enter into contention, And his mouth calls for blows.

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

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

8 T he words of a gossip are like dainty morsels: they go down into a person’s innermost parts.

The words of a talebearer are like tasty trifles, And they go down into the inmost body.

9 O ne who is slack in his work is brother to him who is a master of destruction.

He who is slothful in his work Is a brother to him who is a great destroyer.

10 Y ahweh’s name is a strong tower: the righteous run to him, and are safe.

The name of the Lord is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe.

11 T he rich man’s wealth is his strong city, like an unscalable wall in his own imagination.

The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, And like a high wall in his own esteem.

12 B efore destruction the heart of man is proud, but before honor is humility.

Before destruction the heart of a man is haughty, And before honor is humility.

13 H e who gives answer before he hears, that is folly and shame to him.

He who answers a matter before he hears it, It is folly and shame to him.

14 A man’s spirit will sustain him in sickness, but a crushed spirit, who can bear?

The spirit of a man will sustain him in sickness, But who can bear a broken spirit?

15 T he heart of the discerning gets knowledge. The ear of the wise seeks knowledge.

The heart of the prudent acquires knowledge, And the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.

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 before great men.

17 H e who pleads his cause first seems right; until another comes and questions him.

The first one to plead his cause seems right, Until his neighbor comes and examines him.

18 T he lot settles disputes, and keeps strong ones apart.

Casting lots causes contentions to cease, And keeps the mighty apart.

19 A brother offended is more difficult than a fortified city; and disputes are like the bars of a fortress.

A brother offended is harder to win than a strong city, And contentions are like the bars of a castle.

20 A man’s stomach is filled with the fruit of his mouth. With the harvest of his lips he is satisfied.

A man’s stomach shall be satisfied from the fruit of his mouth; From the produce of his lips he shall be filled.

21 D eath and life are in the power of the tongue; those who love it will eat its fruit.

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

22 W hoever finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor of Yahweh.

He who finds a wife finds a good thing, And obtains favor from the Lord.

23 T he poor plead for mercy, but the rich answer harshly.

The poor man uses entreaties, But the rich answers roughly.

24 A man of many companions may be ruined, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

A man who has friends must himself be friendly, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.