¹ A man who isolates himself pursues selfishness, ² A fool has no delight in understanding, ³ When wickedness comes, contempt also comes, ⁴ The words of a man’s mouth are like deep waters. ⁵ To be partial to the faces of the wicked is not good, ⁶ A fool’s lips come into strife, ⁷ A fool’s mouth is his destruction, ⁸ The words of a gossip are like dainty morsels: ⁹ One who is slack in his work ¹⁰ The LORD’s name is a strong tower: ¹¹ The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, ¹² Before destruction the heart of man is proud, ¹³ He who answers before he hears, ¹⁴ A man’s spirit will sustain him in sickness,
but a crushed spirit, who can bear? ¹⁵ The heart of the discerning gets knowledge. ¹⁶ A man’s gift makes room for him, ¹⁷ He who pleads his cause first seems right—
until another comes and questions him. ¹⁸ The lot settles disputes, ¹⁹ A brother offended is more difficult than a fortified city.
Disputes are like the bars of a fortress. ²⁰ A man’s stomach is filled with the fruit of his mouth. ²¹ Death and life are in the power of the tongue;
those who love it will eat its fruit. ²² Whoever finds a wife finds a good thing, ²³ The poor plead for mercy, ²⁴ A man of many companions may be ruined,