Proverbs

¹A man who isolates himself pursues selfishness, and defies all sound judgment. ²A fool has no delight in understanding, but only in revealing his own opinion. ³When wickedness comes, contempt also comes, and with shame comes disgrace. ⁴The words of a man’s mouth are like deep waters. The fountain of wisdom is like a flowing brook. ⁵To be partial to the faces of the wicked is not good, nor to deprive the innocent of justice. ⁶A fool’s lips come into strife, and his mouth invites beatings. ⁷A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are a snare to his soul. ⁸The words of a gossip are like dainty morsels: they go down into a person’s innermost parts. ⁹One who is slack in his work is brother to him who is a master of destruction. ¹⁰The LORD’s name is a strong tower: the righteous run to him, and are safe. ¹¹The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, like an unscalable wall in his own imagination. ¹²Before destruction the heart of man is proud, but before honor is humility. ¹³He who answers before he hears, that is folly and shame to him. ¹⁴A man’s spirit will sustain him in sickness, but a crushed spirit, who can bear? ¹⁵The heart of the discerning gets knowledge. The ear of the wise seeks knowledge. ¹⁶A man’s gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men. ¹⁷He who pleads his cause first seems right— until another comes and questions him. ¹⁸The lot settles disputes, and keeps strong ones apart. ¹⁹A brother offended is more difficult than a fortified city. Disputes are like the bars of a fortress. ²⁰A man’s stomach is filled with the fruit of his mouth. With the harvest of his lips he is satisfied. ²¹Death and life are in the power of the tongue; those who love it will eat its fruit. ²²Whoever finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor of the LORD. ²³The poor plead for mercy, but the rich answer harshly. ²⁴A man of many companions may be ruined, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.