1 F or desire he who is separated doth seek, With all wisdom he intermeddleth.

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

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

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

3 W ith the coming of the wicked come also hath contempt, And with shame -- reproach.

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

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

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

5 A cceptance of the face of the wicked not good, To turn aside the righteous in judgment.

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

6 T he lips of a fool enter into strife, And his mouth for stripes calleth.

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

7 T he mouth of a fool ruin to him, And his lips the snare of his soul.

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

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

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

9 H e also that is remiss in his work, A brother he to a destroyer.

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

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

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

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

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

12 B efore destruction the heart of man is high, And before honour humility.

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

13 W hoso is answering a matter before he heareth, Folly it is to him and shame.

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

14 T he spirit of a man sustaineth his sickness, And a smitten spirit who doth bear?

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

15 T he heart of the intelligent getteth knowledge, And the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.

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

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

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

17 R ighteous the first in his own cause, His neighbour cometh and hath searched him.

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

18 T he lot causeth contentions to cease, And between the mighty it separateth.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

23 s upplications doth the poor speak, And the rich answereth fierce things.

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

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

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