Young's Literal Translation YLT
New International Version NIV
1 For [an object of] desire he who is separated doth seek, With all wisdom he intermeddleth.
1
An unfriendly person pursues selfish ends and against all sound judgment starts quarrels.
2 A fool delighteth not in understanding, But -- in uncovering his heart.
2
Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions.
3 With the coming of the wicked come also hath contempt, And with shame -- reproach.
3
When wickedness comes, so does contempt, and with shame comes reproach.
4 Deep waters [are] the words of a man's mouth, The fountain of wisdom [is] a flowing brook.
4
The words of the mouth are deep waters, but the fountain of wisdom is a rushing stream.
5 Acceptance of the face of the wicked [is] not good, To turn aside the righteous in judgment.
5
It is not good to be partial to the wicked and so deprive the innocent of justice.
6 The lips of a fool enter into strife, And his mouth for stripes calleth.
6
The lips of fools bring them strife, and their mouths invite a beating.
7 The mouth of a fool [is] ruin to him, And his lips [are] the snare of his soul.
7
The mouths of fools are their undoing, and their lips are a snare to their very lives.
8 The words of a tale-bearer [are] as self-inflicted wounds, And they have gone down [to] the inner parts of the heart.
8
The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts.
9 He also that is remiss in his work, A brother he [is] to a destroyer.
9
One who is slack in his work is brother to one who destroys.
10 A tower of strength [is] the name of Jehovah, Into it the righteous runneth, and is set on high.
10
The name of the LORD is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.
11 The wealth of the rich [is] the city of his strength, And as a wall set on high in his own imagination.
11
The wealth of the rich is their fortified city; they imagine it a wall too high to scale.
12 Before destruction the heart of man is high, And before honour [is] humility.
12
Before a downfall the heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor.
13 Whoso is answering a matter before he heareth, Folly it is to him and shame.
13
To answer before listening— that is folly and shame.
14 The spirit of a man sustaineth his sickness, And a smitten spirit who doth bear?
14
The human spirit can endure in sickness, but a crushed spirit who can bear?
15 The heart of the intelligent getteth knowledge, And the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.
15
The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, for the ears of the wise seek it out.
16 The gift of a man maketh room for him, And before the great it leadeth him.
16
A gift opens the way and ushers the giver into the presence of the great.
17 Righteous [is] the first in his own cause, His neighbour cometh and hath searched him.
17
In a lawsuit the first to speak seems right, until someone comes forward and cross-examines.
18 The lot causeth contentions to cease, And between the mighty it separateth.
18
Casting the lot settles disputes and keeps strong opponents apart.
19 A brother transgressed against is as a strong city, And contentions as the bar of a palace.
19
A brother wronged is more unyielding than a fortified city; disputes are like the barred gates of a citadel.
20 From the fruit of a man's mouth is his belly satisfied, [From the] increase of his lips he is satisfied.
20
From the fruit of their mouth a person’s stomach is filled; with the harvest of their lips they are satisfied.
21 Death and life [are] in the power of the tongue, And those loving it eat its fruit.
21
The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
22 [Whoso] hath found a wife hath found good, And bringeth out good-will from Jehovah.
22
He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the LORD.
23 [With] supplications doth the poor speak, And the rich answereth fierce things.
23
The poor plead for mercy, but the rich answer harshly.
24 A man with friends [is] to show himself friendly, And there is a lover adhering more than a brother!
24
One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Young's Literal Translation is in the public domain.
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.