Proverbs

The Selfishness of the Unfriendly

1He who isolates himself pursues selfish desires;he rebels against all sound judgment.

2A fool does not delight in understanding,but only in airing his opinions.

3With a wicked man comes contempt as well,and shame is accompanied by disgrace.

4The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters;the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.

5Showing partialityto the wicked is not good,nor is depriving the innocent of justice.

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

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

8The words of a gossip are like choice morselsthat go down into the inmost being.

9Whoever is slothful in his workis brother to him who destroys.

10The name of the LORD is a strong tower;the righteous run to itand are safe.

11A rich man’s wealth is his fortified city;it is like a high wall in his imagination.

12Before his downfall a man’s heart is proud,but humility comes before honor.

13He who answers a matter before he hears it—this is folly and disgrace to him.

14The spirit of a man can endure his sickness,but who can survive a broken spirit?

15The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge,and the ear of the wise seeks it out.

16A man’s gift opens doors for him,and brings him before great men.

17The first to state his case seems rightuntil another comes and cross-examines him.

18Casting the lot ends quarrelsand separates strong opponents.

19An offended brother is harder to win than a fortified city,and disputes are like the bars of a castle.

20From the fruit of his mouth a man’s belly is filled;with the harvest from his lips he is satisfied.

21Life and death are in the power of the tongue,and those who love it will eat its fruit.

22He who finds a wife finds a good thingand obtains favor from the LORD.

23The poor man pleads for mercy,but the rich man answers harshly.

24A man of many companions may come to ruin,but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother.

1A man who isolates himself pursues selfishness,and defies all sound judgment.

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

3When wickedness comes, contempt also comes,and with shame comes disgrace.

4The words of a man’s mouth are like deep waters.The fountain of wisdom is like a flowing brook.

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

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

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

8The words of a gossip are like dainty morsels:they go down into a person’s innermost parts.

9One who is slack in his workis brother to him who is a master of destruction.

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

11The rich man’s wealth is his strong city,like an unscalable wall in his own imagination.

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

13He who answers before he hears,that is folly and shame to him.

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

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

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

17He who pleads his cause first seems right—until another comes and questions him.

18The lot settles disputes,and keeps strong ones apart.

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

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

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

22Whoever finds a wife finds a good thing,and obtains favor of the LORD.

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

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