| Berean Study Bible | New International Version |
| 1He who isolates himself pursues selfish desires; he rebels against all sound judgment. | 1An unfriendly person pursues selfish ends and against all sound judgment starts quarrels. |
| 2A fool does not delight in understanding, but only in airing his opinions. | 2Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. |
| 3With a wicked man comes contempt as well, and shame is accompanied by disgrace. | 3When wickedness comes, so does contempt, and with shame comes reproach. |
| 4The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters; the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook. | 4The words of the mouth are deep waters, but the fountain of wisdom is a rushing stream. |
| 5Showing partiality to the wicked is not good, nor is depriving the innocent of justice. | 5It is not good to be partial to the wicked and so deprive the innocent of justice. |
| 6A fool’s lips bring him strife, and his mouth invites a beating. | 6The lips of fools bring them strife, and their mouths invite a beating. |
| 7A fool’s mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to his soul. | 7The mouths of fools are their undoing, and their lips are a snare to their very lives. |
| 8The words of a gossip are like choice morsels that go down into the inmost being. | 8The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts. |
| 9Whoever is slothful in his work is brother to him who destroys. | 9One who is slack in his work is brother to one who destroys. |
| 10The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe. | 10The name of the LORD is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe. |
| 11A rich man’s wealth is his fortified city; it is like a high wall in his imagination. | 11The wealth of the rich is their fortified city; they imagine it a wall too high to scale. |
| 12Before his downfall a man’s heart is proud, but humility comes before honor. | 12Before a downfall the heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor. |
| 13He who answers a matter before he hears it—this is folly and disgrace to him. | 13To answer before listening-- that is folly and shame. |
| 14The spirit of a man can endure his sickness, but who can survive a broken spirit? | 14The human spirit can endure in sickness, but a crushed spirit who can bear? |
| 15The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks it out. | 15The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, for the ears of the wise seek it out. |
| 16A man’s gift opens doors for him, and brings him before great men. | 16A gift opens the way and ushers the giver into the presence of the great. |
| 17The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him. | 17In a lawsuit the first to speak seems right, until someone comes forward and cross-examines. |
| 18Casting the lot ends quarrels and separates strong opponents. | 18Casting the lot settles disputes and keeps strong opponents apart. |
| 19An offended brother is harder to win than a fortified city, and disputes are like the bars of a castle. | 19A brother wronged is more unyielding than a fortified city; disputes are like the barred gates of a citadel. |
| 20From the fruit of his mouth a man’s belly is filled; with the harvest from his lips he is satisfied. | 20From the fruit of their mouth a person's stomach is filled; with the harvest of their lips they are satisfied. |
| 21Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit. | 21The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. |
| 22He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the LORD. | 22He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the LORD. |
| 23The poor man pleads for mercy, but the rich man answers harshly. | 23The poor plead for mercy, but the rich answer harshly. |
| 24A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother. | 24One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. |
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