¹Unfriendly people look out for themselves;

they bicker with sensible people.

²Fools find no pleasure in understanding,

but only in expressing their opinion.

³When the wicked arrive, so does contempt;

with shame comes insult.

⁴The words of a person’s mouth are deep waters,

a bubbling stream, a fountain of wisdom.

⁵Favoring the wicked isn’t good;

it denies justice to the righteous.

⁶The lips of fools make accusations;

their mouths elicit beatings.

⁷The mouth of fools is their ruin;

their lips are a trap for their lives.

⁸The words of gossips are like choice snacks;

they go down to the inmost parts.

⁹Those who are lazy in their work

are brothers to thugs.

¹⁰The LORD ’s name is a strong tower;

the righteous run to it and find refuge.

¹¹The riches of the wealthy are a strong city

and like a high wall in their imagination.

¹²Pride comes before a disaster,

but humility comes before respect.

¹³Those who answer before they listen

are foolish and disgraceful.

¹⁴The human spirit sustains a sick person,

but who can bear a broken spirit?

¹⁵An understanding mind gains knowledge;

the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.

¹⁶A gift opens the way

for access to important people.

¹⁷The first person to testify seems innocent,

until the other comes and cross-examines him.

¹⁸The dice settle conflicts

and keep strong opponents apart.

¹⁹An offended ally is more formidable than a city;

such quarreling is like the bars of a castle.

²⁰The stomach is satisfied

by the fruit of the mouth;

one’s lips can earn a satisfying income.

²¹Death and life are in the power of the tongue;

those who love it will eat its fruit.

²²He who finds a wife finds what is good,

gaining favor from the LORD .

²³The poor plead for help,

but the wealthy answer harshly.

²⁴There are persons for companionship,

but then there are friends who are more loyal than family.