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18 He who separates himself seeks his own desire;
    he seeks and quarrels against all wisdom.

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

When the wicked comes, then comes also contempt,
    and with dishonor reproach.

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

It is not good to favor the wicked,
    or to turn aside the righteous in judgment.

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

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

The words of a talebearer are as wounds,
    and they go down into the innermost parts of the body.

He also who is slothful in his work
    is brother to him who is a great waster.

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

11 The rich man’s wealth is his strong city,
    and as a high wall in his own conceit.

12 Before destruction the heart of man is haughty,
    and before honor is humility.

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

14 The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity,
    but a wounded spirit who can bear?

15 The heart of the prudent gets knowledge,
    and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.

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

17 He who is first in his own cause seems just,
    but his neighbor comes and searches him.

18 The lot causes contentions to cease,
    and keeps the mighty ones apart.

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

20 A man’s stomach will be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth;
    and with the increase of his lips will he be filled.

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

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

23 The poor man uses entreaties,
    but the rich man answers roughly.

24 A man who has friends must show himself friendly,
    and there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

18 An unfriendly person pursues selfish ends
    and against all sound judgment starts quarrels.

Fools find no pleasure in understanding
    but delight in airing their own opinions.(A)

When wickedness comes, so does contempt,
    and with shame comes reproach.

The words of the mouth are deep waters,(B)
    but the fountain of wisdom is a rushing stream.

It is not good to be partial to the wicked(C)
    and so deprive the innocent of justice.(D)

The lips of fools bring them strife,
    and their mouths invite a beating.(E)

The mouths of fools are their undoing,
    and their lips are a snare(F) to their very lives.(G)

The words of a gossip are like choice morsels;
    they go down to the inmost parts.(H)

One who is slack in his work
    is brother to one who destroys.(I)

10 The name of the Lord is a fortified tower;(J)
    the righteous run to it and are safe.(K)

11 The wealth of the rich is their fortified city;(L)
    they imagine it a wall too high to scale.

12 Before a downfall the heart is haughty,
    but humility comes before honor.(M)

13 To answer before listening—
    that is folly and shame.(N)

14 The human spirit can endure in sickness,
    but a crushed spirit who can bear?(O)

15 The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge,(P)
    for the ears of the wise seek it out.

16 A gift(Q) opens the way
    and ushers the giver into the presence of the great.

17 In a lawsuit the first to speak seems right,
    until someone comes forward and cross-examines.

18 Casting the lot settles disputes(R)
    and keeps strong opponents apart.

19 A brother wronged(S) is more unyielding than a fortified city;
    disputes are like the barred gates of a citadel.

20 From the fruit of their mouth a person’s stomach is filled;
    with the harvest of their lips they are satisfied.(T)

21 The tongue has the power of life and death,(U)
    and those who love it will eat its fruit.(V)

22 He who finds a wife finds what is good(W)
    and receives favor from the Lord.(X)

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

24 One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin,
    but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.(Y)