1He who is separated seeks [his own] desire, || He interferes with all wisdom.

2A fool does not delight in understanding, || But in uncovering his heart.

3Contempt has also come with the coming of the wicked, || And with shame—reproach.

4The words of a man’s mouth [are] deep waters, || The fountain of wisdom [is] a flowing brook.

5Favoring of the face of the wicked [is] not good, || To turn aside the righteous in judgment.

6The lips of a fool enter into strife, || And his mouth calls for stripes.

7The mouth of a fool [is] ruin to him, || And his lips [are] the snare of his soul.

8The words of a tale-bearer [are] as self-inflicted wounds, || And they have gone down [to] the inner parts of the heart.

9He also that is remiss in his work, || He [is] a brother to a destroyer.

10The Name of YHWH [is] a tower of strength, || The righteous runs into it, and is set on high.

11The wealth of the rich [is] the city of his strength, || And as a wall set on high in his own imagination.

12The heart of man is high before destruction, || And humility [is] before honor.

13Whoever is answering a matter before he hears, || It is folly to him—and shame.

14The spirit of a man sustains his sickness, || And who bears a struck spirit?

15The heart of the intelligent gets knowledge, || And the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.

16The gift of a man makes room for him, || And it leads him before the great.

17The first in his own cause [seems] righteous, || [But] his neighbor comes and has searched him.

18The lot causes contentions to cease, || And it separates between the mighty.

19A brother transgressed against is as a strong city, || And contentions as the bar of a palace.

20From the fruit of a man’s mouth is his belly satisfied, || [From the] increase of his lips he is satisfied.

21Death and life [are] in the power of the tongue, || And those loving it eat its fruit.

22[Whoever] has found a wife has found good, || And brings out goodwill from YHWH.

23The poor speaks [with] supplications, || And the rich answers fierce things.

24A man with friends—to show himself friendly, || And there is a lover adhering more than a brother!