New International Version NIV
Young's Literal Translation YLT
1 An unfriendly person pursues selfish ends and against all sound judgment starts quarrels.
1
For [an object of] desire he who is separated doth seek, With all wisdom he intermeddleth.
2 Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions.
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A fool delighteth not in understanding, But -- in uncovering his heart.
3 When wickedness comes, so does contempt, and with shame comes reproach.
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With the coming of the wicked come also hath contempt, And with shame -- reproach.
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] the words of a man's mouth, The fountain of wisdom [is] a flowing brook.
5 It is not good to be partial to the wicked and so deprive the innocent of justice.
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Acceptance of the face of the wicked [is] not good, To turn aside the righteous in judgment.
6 The lips of fools bring them strife, and their mouths invite a beating.
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The lips of a fool enter into strife, And his mouth for stripes calleth.
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] the snare of 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 tale-bearer [are] as self-inflicted wounds, And they have gone down [to] the inner parts of the heart.
9 One who is slack in his work is brother to one who destroys.
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He also that is remiss in his work, A brother he [is] to a destroyer.
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 Jehovah, Into it the righteous runneth, and is set on high.
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] the city of his strength, And as a wall set on high in his own imagination.
12 Before a downfall the heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor.
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Before destruction the heart of man is high, And before honour [is] humility.
13 To answer before listening— that is folly and shame.
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Whoso is answering a matter before he heareth, Folly it is to him and 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 sustaineth his sickness, And a smitten spirit who doth bear?
15 The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, for the ears of the wise seek it out.
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The heart of the intelligent getteth knowledge, And the ear of the wise seeketh 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 man maketh room for him, And before the great it leadeth him.
17 In a lawsuit the first to speak seems right, until someone comes forward and cross-examines.
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Righteous [is] the first in his own cause, His neighbour cometh and hath searched him.
18 Casting the lot settles disputes and keeps strong opponents apart.
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The lot causeth contentions to cease, And between the mighty it separateth.
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 transgressed against is as a strong city, And contentions as the bar of a palace.
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 is his belly satisfied, [From the] increase of his lips he is satisfied.
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 loving it eat its fruit.
22 He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the LORD.
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[Whoso] hath found a wife hath found good, And bringeth out good-will from Jehovah.
23 The poor plead for mercy, but the rich answer harshly.
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[With] supplications doth the poor speak, And the rich answereth fierce things.
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 with friends [is] to show himself friendly, And there is a lover adhering more than a brother!
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.
Young's Literal Translation is in the public domain.