Good News Translation GNT
New International Version NIV
2 A fool does not care whether he understands a thing or not; all he wants to do is show how smart he is.
2
Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions.
3 Sin and shame go together. Lose your honor, and you will get scorn in its place.
3
When wickedness comes, so does contempt, and with shame comes reproach.
4 A person's words can be a source of wisdom, deep as the ocean, fresh as a flowing stream.
4
The words of the mouth are deep waters, but the fountain of wisdom is a rushing stream.
5 It is not right to favor the guilty and keep the innocent from receiving justice.
5
It is not good to be partial to the wicked and so deprive the innocent of justice.
6 When some fool starts an argument, he is asking for a beating.
6
The lips of fools bring them strife, and their mouths invite a beating.
7 When a fool speaks, he is ruining himself; he gets caught in the trap of his own words.
7
The mouths of fools are their undoing, and their lips are a snare to their very lives.
8 Gossip is so tasty - how we love to swallow it!
8
The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts.
9 A lazy person is as bad as someone who is destructive.
9
One who is slack in his work is brother to one who destroys.
10 The Lord is like a strong tower, where the righteous can go and be safe.
10
The name of the LORD is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.
11 Rich people, however, imagine that their wealth protects them like high, strong walls around a city.
11
The wealth of the rich is their fortified city; they imagine it a wall too high to scale.
12 No one is respected unless he is humble; arrogant people are on the way to ruin.
12
Before a downfall the heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. 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.