Proverbs

1For [an object of] desire he who is separated doth seek, With all wisdom he intermeddleth.

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

3With the coming of the wicked come also hath contempt, And with shame — reproach.

4Deep waters [are] the words of a man's mouth, The fountain of wisdom [is] a flowing brook.

5Acceptance of the face of the wicked [is] not good, To turn aside the righteous in judgment.

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

7The mouth of a fool [is] ruin to him, And his lips [are] the snare of his soul.

8The words of a tale-bearer [are] as self-inflicted wounds, And they have gone down [to] the inner parts of the heart.

9He also that is remiss in his work, A brother he [is] to a destroyer.

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

11The wealth of the rich [is] the city of his strength, And as a wall set on high in his own imagination.

12Before destruction the heart of man is high, And before honour [is] humility.

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

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

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

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

17Righteous [is] the first in his own cause, His neighbour cometh and hath searched him.

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

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

20From the fruit of a man's mouth is his belly satisfied, [From the] increase of his lips he is satisfied.

21Death and life [are] in the power of the tongue, And those loving it eat its fruit.

22[Whoso] hath found a wife hath found good, And bringeth out good-will from Jehovah.

23[With] supplications doth the poor speak, And the rich answereth fierce things.

24A man with friends [is] to show himself friendly, And there is a lover adhering more 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.