| English Standard Version | New International Version |
| 1Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment. | 1An unfriendly person pursues selfish ends and against all sound judgment starts quarrels. |
| 2A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion. | 2Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. |
| 3When wickedness comes, contempt comes also, and with dishonor comes 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. |
| 5It is not good to be partial to the wicked or to deprive the righteous of justice. | 5It is not good to be partial to the wicked and so deprive the innocent of justice. |
| 6A fool’s lips walk into a fight, 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 whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body. | 8The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts. |
| 9Whoever is slack in his work is a 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 man runs into it and is 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 strong city, and 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 destruction a man’s heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor. | 12Before a downfall the heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor. |
| 13If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame. | 13To answer before listening-- that is folly and shame. |
| 14A man’s spirit will endure sickness, but a crushed spirit who can bear? | 14The human spirit can endure in sickness, but a crushed spirit who can bear? |
| 15An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge. | 15The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, for the ears of the wise seek it out. |
| 16A man’s gift makes room for him and brings him before the great. | 16A gift opens the way and ushers the giver into the presence of the great. |
| 17The one who states his case first seems right, until the other comes and examines him. | 17In a lawsuit the first to speak seems right, until someone comes forward and cross-examines. |
| 18The lot puts an end to quarrels and decides between powerful contenders. | 18Casting the lot settles disputes and keeps strong opponents apart. |
| 19A brother offended is more unyielding than a strong city, and quarreling is 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 a man’s mouth his stomach is satisfied; he is satisfied by the yield of his lips. | 20From the fruit of their mouth a person's stomach is filled; with the harvest of their lips they are satisfied. |
| 21Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits. | 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 use entreaties, but the rich answer roughly. | 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 sticks closer than a brother. | 24One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. |
| ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved. | New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. |
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