New International Version NIV
Lexham English Bible LEB
1 An unfriendly person pursues selfish ends and against all sound judgment starts quarrels.
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He who is selfish seeks a craving; against all sound judgment he shows contempt.
2 Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions.
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A fool will not take pleasure in understanding, but in expressing his heart.
3 When wickedness comes, so does contempt, and with shame comes reproach.
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With the coming of wickedness comes contempt also, and with dishonor, disgrace.
4 The words of the mouth are deep waters, but the fountain of wisdom is a rushing stream.
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Deep waters [are] words of the mouth of a man; a gushing stream [is] a fountain of wisdom.
5 It is not good to be partial to the wicked and so deprive the innocent of justice.
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Being partial [to] faces of evil [is] not good, [nor] to subvert the righteous at the judgment.
6 The lips of fools bring them strife, and their mouths invite a beating.
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The lips of a fool will bring strife, and his mouth calls out for a flogging.
7 The mouths of fools are their undoing, and their lips are a snare to their very lives.
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The mouth of a fool [is] ruin to him, and his lips [are] a snare to his soul.
8 The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts.
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The words of a whisper [are] like delicious morsels, and they themselves go down [to] inner parts of the body.
9 One who is slack in his work is brother to one who destroys.
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Even he who is slack in his work, he is brother to a master of destruction.
10 The name of the LORD is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.
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A tower of strength is the name of Yahweh; into him the righteous will run and be safe.
11 The wealth of the rich is their fortified city; they imagine it a wall too high to scale.
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The wealth of the rich [is] {his strong city}, and like a wall, it is high in his imagination.
12 Before a downfall the heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor.
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In the presence of destruction, the heart of a man will be haughty, but in the presence of honor, humble.
13 To answer before listening— that is folly and shame.
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He who returns a word before he will hear, folly itself [belongs] to him as well as shame.
14 The human spirit can endure in sickness, but a crushed spirit who can bear?
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The spirit of a man will endure his sickness, but a broken spirit, who may bear it?
15 The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, for the ears of the wise seek it out.
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An intelligent {mind} will acquire knowledge, and the ear of the wise will seek knowledge.
16 A gift opens the way and ushers the giver into the presence of the great.
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The gift of a person will open doors for him, and before the great, it gives him access.
17 In a lawsuit the first to speak seems right, until someone comes forward and cross-examines.
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The first in his dispute is [deemed] righteous, [but] his neighbor will come and examine him.
18 Casting the lot settles disputes and keeps strong opponents apart.
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The lot will put an end to disputes, and between powerful contenders it will decide.
19 A brother wronged is more unyielding than a fortified city; disputes are like the barred gates of a citadel.
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A brother who is offended [is worse] than a city of strength, and quarrels [are] like the bars of a fortification.
20 From the fruit of their mouth a person’s stomach is filled; with the harvest of their lips they are satisfied.
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From the fruit of a man's mouth, his stomach will be satisfied, as for the yield of his lips, it will satisfy.
21 The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
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Death and life [are] in the {power} of the tongue, and those who love her will eat of her fruit.
22 He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the LORD.
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He who finds a wife finds good, and he will obtain favor from Yahweh.
23 The poor plead for mercy, but the rich answer harshly.
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The poor may speak entreaties, but the rich will answer roughly.
24 One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
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A man of [many] friends will come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.