The Complete Jewish Bible CJB
New King James Version NKJV
1 He who separates himself indulges his desires and shows contempt for sound advice of any kind.
1
A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire; He rages against all wise judgment.
2 A fool takes no pleasure in trying to understand; he only wants to express his own opinion.
2
A fool has no delight in understanding, But in expressing his own heart.
3 When a wicked person comes, contempt comes too, and with disdain, provocation.
3
When the wicked comes, contempt comes also; And with dishonor comes reproach.
4 The words of a man's mouth are deep water, a gushing torrent, a fountain of wisdom.
4
The words of a man's mouth are deep waters; The wellspring of wisdom is a flowing brook.
5 It is not good to be partial to the guilty and thus deprive the innocent of justice.
5
It is not good to show partiality to the wicked, Or to overthrow the righteous in judgment.
6 A fool's words get him into fights; yes, his mouth calls out for a beating.
6
A fool's lips enter into contention, And his mouth calls for blows.
7 A fool's mouth is his ruin; his words are a trap for him.
7
A fool's mouth is his destruction, And his lips are the snare of his soul.
8 A slanderer's words are tasty morsels; they slide right down into the belly.
8
The words of a talebearer are like tasty trifles, And they go down into the inmost body.
9 Whoever is lazy in doing his work is brother to the destroyer.
9
He who is slothful in his work Is a brother to him who is a great destroyer.
10 The name of ADONAI is a strong tower; a righteous person runs to it and is raised high [above danger].
10
The name of the Lord is a strong 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.
11
The rich man's wealth is his strong city, And like a high wall in his own esteem.
12 Before being ruined, a person's heart is proud; before being honored, a person must be humble.
12
Before destruction the heart of a man is haughty, And before honor is humility.
13 To answer someone before hearing him out is both stupid and embarrassing.
13
He who answers a matter before he hears it, It is folly and shame to him.
14 A person's spirit can sustain him when ill, but a crushed spirit - who can bear it?
14
The spirit of a man will sustain him in sickness, But who can bear a broken spirit?
15 The mind of a person with discernment gets knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
15
The heart of the prudent acquires knowledge, And the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
16 A person's gift clears his way and gives him access to the great.
16
A man's gift makes room for him, And brings him before great men.
17 The first to state his case seems right, till the other one comes and cross-examines.
17
The first one to plead his cause seems right, Until his neighbor comes and examines him.
18 Casting lots puts an end to strife and separates powerful disputants.
18
Casting lots causes contentions to cease, And keeps the mighty apart.
19 It is harder to win an offended brother than a strong city; their fights are like the bars of a fortress.
19
A brother offended is harder to win than a strong city, And contentions are like the bars of a castle.
20 A person's belly will be filled with the fruit of his mouth; with what his lips produce he will be filled.
20
A man's stomach shall be satisfied from the fruit of his mouth, From the produce of his lips he shall be filled.
21 The tongue has power over life and death; those who indulge it must eat its fruit.
21
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, 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.
22
He who finds a wife finds a good thing, And obtains favor from the Lord.
23 The poor man speaks beseechingly, the rich man's answer is blunt.
23
The poor man uses entreaties, But the rich answers roughly.
24 Some "friends" pretend to be friends, but a true friend sticks closer than a brother.
24
A man who has friends must himself be friendly, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.