| New American Standard Bible 1995 | New Living Translation |
| 1He who separates himself seeks his own desire, He quarrels against all sound wisdom. | 1Unfriendly people care only about themselves; they lash out at common sense. |
| 2A fool does not delight in understanding, But only in revealing his own mind. | 2Fools have no interest in understanding; they only want to air their own opinions. |
| 3When a wicked man comes, contempt also comes, And with dishonor comes scorn. | 3Doing wrong leads to disgrace, and scandalous behavior brings contempt. |
| 4The words of a man's mouth are deep waters; The fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook. | 4Wise words are like deep waters; wisdom flows from the wise like a bubbling brook. |
| 5To show partiality to the wicked is not good, Nor to thrust aside the righteous in judgment. | 5It is not right to acquit the guilty or deny justice to the innocent. |
| 6A fool's lips bring strife, And his mouth calls for blows. | 6Fools’ words get them into constant quarrels; they are asking for a beating. |
| 7A fool's mouth is his ruin, And his lips are the snare of his soul. | 7The mouths of fools are their ruin; they trap themselves with their lips. |
| 8The words of a whisperer are like dainty morsels, And they go down into the innermost parts of the body. | 8Rumors are dainty morsels that sink deep into one’s heart. |
| 9He also who is slack in his work Is brother to him who destroys. | 9A lazy person is as bad as someone who destroys things. |
| 10The name of the LORD is a strong tower; The righteous runs into it and is safe. | 10The name of the LORD is a strong fortress; the godly run to him and are safe. |
| 11A rich man's wealth is his strong city, And like a high wall in his own imagination. | 11The rich think of their wealth as a strong defense; they imagine it to be a high wall of safety. |
| 12Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, But humility goes before honor. | 12Haughtiness goes before destruction; humility precedes honor. |
| 13He who gives an answer before he hears, It is folly and shame to him. | 13Spouting off before listening to the facts is both shameful and foolish. |
| 14The spirit of a man can endure his sickness, But as for a broken spirit who can bear it? | 14The human spirit can endure a sick body, but who can bear a crushed spirit? |
| 15The mind of the prudent acquires knowledge, And the ear of the wise seeks knowledge. | 15Intelligent people are always ready to learn. Their ears are open for knowledge. |
| 16A man's gift makes room for him And brings him before great men. | 16Giving a gift can open doors; it gives access to important people! |
| 17The first to plead his case seems right, Until another comes and examines him. | 17The first to speak in court sounds right— until the cross-examination begins. |
| 18The cast lot puts an end to strife And decides between the mighty ones. | 18Flipping a coin can end arguments; it settles disputes between powerful opponents. |
| 19A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city, And contentions are like the bars of a citadel. | 19An offended friend is harder to win back than a fortified city. Arguments separate friends like a gate locked with bars. |
| 20With the fruit of a man's mouth his stomach will be satisfied; He will be satisfied with the product of his lips. | 20Wise words satisfy like a good meal; the right words bring satisfaction. |
| 21Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit. | 21The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences. |
| 22He who finds a wife finds a good thing And obtains favor from the LORD. | 22The man who finds a wife finds a treasure, and he receives favor from the LORD. |
| 23The poor man utters supplications, But the rich man answers roughly. | 23The poor plead for mercy; the rich answer with insults. |
| 24A man of too many friends comes to ruin, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. | 24There are “friends” who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother. |
| New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org | Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. |
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