1He who isolates himself pursues selfish desires;
he rebels against all sound judgment.
1The one separating himself seeks his own desire, against all sound wisdom he breaks out.
2A fool does not delight in understanding,
but only in airing his opinions.
2A fool does not delight in understanding, but rather in uncovering his heart.
3With a wicked man comes contempt as well,
and shame is accompanied by disgrace.
3With the coming of the wicked also comes contempt, and with shame, reproach.
4The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters;
the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.
4The words of the mouth of a man are deep waters; the fountain of wisdom is a flowing brook.
5Showing partiality to the wickeda is not good,
nor is depriving the innocent of justice.
5To lift up the face to a wicked one is not good—to overthrow a righteous one in the judgment.
6A fool’s lips bring him strife,
and his mouth invites a beating.
6The lips of a fool enter into strife, and his mouth calls for blows.
7A fool’s mouth is his ruin,
and his lips are a snare to his soul.
7The mouth of a fool is ruin to him, and his lips are a snare to his soul.
8The words of a gossip are like choice morsels
that go down into the inmost being.
8The words of a whisperer are like things to be gulped, and they go down into the chambers of the belly.
9Whoever is slothful in his work
is brother to him who destroys.
9The one being slack in his work, he is also a brother to a lord of destruction.
10The name of the LORD is a strong tower;
the righteous run to ita and are safe.
10A tower of strength is the name of YHWH—to it a righteous one runs and is set on high.
11A rich man’s wealth is his fortified city;
it is like a high wall in his imagination.
11The wealth of the rich one is the city of his strength, and like a wall set high in his imagination.
12Before his downfall a man’s heart is proud,
but humility comes before honor.
12Before the face of destruction, the heart of a man is exalted, and before honor is humility.
13He who answers a matter before he hears it—
this is folly and disgrace to him.
13The one returning a word before he hears, it is folly to him and disgrace.
14The spirit of a man can endure his sickness,
but who can survive a broken spirit?
14The spirit of a man will sustain him in his sickness, and a stricken spirit—who can bear it?
15The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge,
and the ear of the wise seeks it out.
15The heart of an understanding one acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise ones seeks knowledge.
16A man’s gift opens doors for him,
and brings him before great men.
16The gift of a man makes room for him, and it leads him before the face of great ones.
17The first to state his case seems right
until another comes and cross-examines him.
17The first in his dispute seems right, until his neighbor comes and examines him.
18Casting the lot ends quarrels
and separates strong opponents.
18The lot makes quarrels cease, and it separates between mighty ones.
19An offended brother is harder to win than a fortified city,
and disputes are like the bars of a castle.
19A brother transgressed is as a city of strength, and quarrels are like the gate bar of a citadel.
20From the fruit of his mouth a man’s belly is filled;
with the harvest from his lips he is satisfied.
20From the fruit of the mouth of a man, his belly is satisfied; with the produce of his lips he is satisfied.
21Life and death are in the power of the tongue,
and those who love it will eat its fruit.
21Death and life are in the hand of the tongue, and those loving it will eat its fruit.
22He who finds a wife finds a good thing
and obtains favor from the LORD.
22He who has found a wife has found good, and he obtains favor from YHWH.
23The poor man pleads for mercy,
but the rich man answers harshly.
23With supplications the poor one speaks, and a rich one answers fiercely.
24A man of many companions may come to ruin,
but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother.
24A man of companions may come to ruin, and there is a lover adhering more than a brother.