Contrast of the Upright and the Wicked
1One who separates himself seeks his own desire;
He Lit breaks outquarrels against all sound wisdom.
2A fool does not delight in understanding,
But in revealing his own Lit heartmind.
3When a wicked person comes, contempt also comes,
And with dishonor comes taunting.
4The words of a person’s mouth are deep waters;
Or A bubbling brook, a fountain of wisdom
The fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.
5To show partiality to the wicked is not good,
Nor to suppress the righteous in judgment.
6A fool’s lips Lit come withbring strife,
And his mouth invites beatings.
7A fool’s mouth is his ruin,
And his lips are the snare of his soul.
8The words of a gossiper are like dainty morsels,
And they go down into the Lit chambers of the bellyinnermost parts of the body.
9He also who is lax in his work
Is a brother to him who destroys.
10The name of the Lord is a strong tower;
The righteous runs into it and is Lit set on highsafe.
11A rich person’s wealth is his strong city,
And like a high wall in his own imagination.
12Before destruction the heart of a person is haughty,
But humility goes before honor.
13One who gives an answer before he hears,
It is foolishness and shame to him.
14The spirit of a person can endure his sickness,
But as for a broken spirit, who can endure it?
15The Lit heartmind of the discerning acquires knowledge,
And the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
16A person’s gift makes room for him
And brings him before great people.
Until Lit his neighboranother comes and examines him.
18The cast lot puts an end to quarrels,
And Lit makes a divisiondecides between the mighty ones.
19A brother who is offended is harder to be won than a strong city,
And quarrels are like the bars of a citadel.
20With the I.e., speechfruit of a person’s mouth his stomach will be satisfied;
He will be satisfied with the product of his lips.
21Death and life are in the Lit handpower of the tongue,
And those who love it will eat its fruit.
22He who finds a wife finds a good thing
And obtains favor from the Lord.
23A poor person utters pleadings,
But a rich person answers defiantly.
But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
New American Standard Bible
Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020
by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved.
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