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!