| NET Bible | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1One who has isolated himself seeks his own desires; he rejects all sound judgment. | 1One who isolates himself pursues selfish desires; he rebels against all sound judgment. |
| 2A fool takes no pleasure in understanding but only in disclosing what is on his mind. | 2A fool does not delight in understanding, but only wants to show off his opinions. |
| 3When a wicked person arrives, contempt shows up with him, and with shame comes a reproach. | 3When a wicked man comes, contempt also does, and along with dishonor, disgrace. |
| 4The words of a person's mouth are like deep waters, and the fountain of wisdom is like a flowing brook. | 4The words of a man's mouth are deep waters, a flowing river, a fountain of wisdom. |
| 5It is terrible to show partiality to the wicked, by depriving a righteous man of justice. | 5It is not good to show partiality to the guilty by perverting the justice due the innocent. |
| 6The lips of a fool enter into strife, and his mouth invites a flogging. | 6A fool's lips lead to strife, and his mouth provokes a beating. |
| 7The mouth of a fool is his ruin, and his lips are a snare for his life. | 7A fool's mouth is his devastation, and his lips are a trap for his life. |
| 8The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down into the person's innermost being. | 8A gossip's words are like choice food that goes down to one's innermost being. |
| 9The one who is slack in his work is a brother to one who destroys. | 9The one who is truly lazy in his work is brother to a vandal. |
| 10The name of the LORD is like a strong tower; the righteous person runs to it and is set safely on high. | 10The name of Yahweh is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are protected. |
| 11The wealth of a rich person is like a strong city, and it is like a high wall in his imagination. | 11A rich man's wealth is his fortified city; in his imagination it is like a high wall. |
| 12Before destruction the heart of a person is proud, but humility comes before honor. | 12Before his downfall a man's heart is proud, but humility comes before honor. |
| 13The one who gives an answer before he listens--that is his folly and his shame. | 13The one who gives an answer before he listens-- this is foolishness and disgrace for him. |
| 14A person's spirit sustains him through sickness--but who can bear a crushed spirit? | 14A man's spirit can endure sickness, but who can survive a broken spirit? |
| 15The discerning person acquires knowledge, and the wise person seeks knowledge. | 15The mind of the discerning acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks it. |
| 16A person's gift makes room for him, and leads him before important people. | 16A gift opens doors for a man and brings him before the great. |
| 17The first to state his case seems right, until his opponent begins to cross-examine him. | 17The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him. |
| 18A toss of a coin ends disputes, and settles the issue between strong opponents. | 18Casting the lot ends quarrels and separates powerful opponents. |
| 19A relative offended is harder to reach than a strong city, and disputes are like the barred gates of a fortified citadel. | 19An offended brother is harder to reach than a fortified city, and quarrels are like the bars of a fortress. |
| 20From the fruit of a person's mouth his stomach is satisfied, with the product of his lips is he satisfied. | 20From the fruit of his mouth a man's stomach is satisfied; he is filled with the product of his lips. |
| 21Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love its use will eat its fruit. | 21Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit. |
| 22The one who finds a wife finds what is enjoyable, and receives a pleasurable gift from the LORD. | 22A man who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the LORD. |
| 23A poor person makes supplications, but a rich man answers harshly. | 23The poor man pleads, but the rich one answers roughly. |
| 24A person who has friends may be harmed by them, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. | 24A man with many friends may be harmed, but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother. |
|
    |