The Complete Jewish Bible CJB
New International Version NIV
1 He who separates himself indulges his desires and shows contempt for sound advice of any kind.
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An unfriendly person pursues selfish ends and against all sound judgment starts quarrels.
2 A fool takes no pleasure in trying to understand; he only wants to express his own opinion.
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Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions.
3 When a wicked person comes, contempt comes too, and with disdain, provocation.
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When wickedness comes, so does contempt, and with shame comes reproach.
4 The words of a man's mouth are deep water, a gushing torrent, a fountain of wisdom.
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The words of the mouth are deep waters, but the fountain of wisdom is a rushing stream.
5 It is not good to be partial to the guilty and thus deprive the innocent of justice.
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It is not good to be partial to the wicked and so deprive the innocent of justice.
6 A fool's words get him into fights; yes, his mouth calls out for a beating.
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The lips of fools bring them strife, and their mouths invite a beating.
7 A fool's mouth is his ruin; his words are a trap for him.
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The mouths of fools are their undoing, and their lips are a snare to their very lives.
8 A slanderer's words are tasty morsels; they slide right down into the belly.
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The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts.
9 Whoever is lazy in doing his work is brother to the destroyer.
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One who is slack in his work is brother to one who destroys.
10 The name of ADONAI is a strong tower; a righteous person runs to it and is raised high [above danger].
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The name of the LORD is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.
11 The wealth of the rich is his fortified city, like a high wall, in his own imagination.
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The wealth of the rich is their fortified city; they imagine it a wall too high to scale.
12 Before being ruined, a person's heart is proud; before being honored, a person must be humble.
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Before a downfall the heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor.
13 To answer someone before hearing him out is both stupid and embarrassing.
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To answer before listening— that is folly and shame.
14 A person's spirit can sustain him when ill, but a crushed spirit - who can bear it?
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The human spirit can endure in sickness, but a crushed spirit who can bear?
15 The mind of a person with discernment gets knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
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The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, for the ears of the wise seek it out.
16 A person's gift clears his way and gives him access to the great.
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A gift opens the way and ushers the giver into the presence of the great.
17 The first to state his case seems right, till the other one comes and cross-examines.
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In a lawsuit the first to speak seems right, until someone comes forward and cross-examines.
18 Casting lots puts an end to strife and separates powerful disputants.
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Casting the lot settles disputes and keeps strong opponents apart.
19 It is harder to win an offended brother than a strong city; their fights are like the bars of a fortress.
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A brother wronged is more unyielding than a fortified city; disputes are like the barred gates of a citadel.
20 A person's belly will be filled with the fruit of his mouth; with what his lips produce he will be filled.
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From the fruit of their mouth a person’s stomach is filled; with the harvest of their lips they are satisfied.
21 The tongue has power over life and death; those who indulge it must eat its fruit.
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The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
22 He who finds a wife finds a great good; he has won the favor of ADONAI.
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He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the LORD.
23 The poor man speaks beseechingly, the rich man's answer is blunt.
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The poor plead for mercy, but the rich answer harshly.
24 Some "friends" pretend to be friends, but a true friend sticks closer than a brother.
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One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.