| NET Bible | New Living Translation |
| 1One who has isolated himself seeks his own desires; he rejects all sound judgment. | 1Unfriendly people care only about themselves; they lash out at common sense. |
| 2A fool takes no pleasure in understanding but only in disclosing what is on his mind. | 2Fools have no interest in understanding; they only want to air their own opinions. |
| 3When a wicked person arrives, contempt shows up with him, and with shame comes a reproach. | 3Doing wrong leads to disgrace, and scandalous behavior brings contempt. |
| 4The words of a person's mouth are like deep waters, and the fountain of wisdom is like a flowing brook. | 4Wise words are like deep waters; wisdom flows from the wise like a bubbling brook. |
| 5It is terrible to show partiality to the wicked, by depriving a righteous man of justice. | 5It is not right to acquit the guilty or deny justice to the innocent. |
| 6The lips of a fool enter into strife, and his mouth invites a flogging. | 6Fools’ words get them into constant quarrels; they are asking for a beating. |
| 7The mouth of a fool is his ruin, and his lips are a snare for his life. | 7The mouths of fools are their ruin; they trap themselves with their lips. |
| 8The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down into the person's innermost being. | 8Rumors are dainty morsels that sink deep into one’s heart. |
| 9The one who is slack in his work is a brother to one who destroys. | 9A lazy person is as bad as someone who destroys things. |
| 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 the LORD is a strong fortress; the godly run to him and are safe. |
| 11The wealth of a rich person is like a strong city, and it is like a high wall in his imagination. | 11The rich think of their wealth as a strong defense; they imagine it to be a high wall of safety. |
| 12Before destruction the heart of a person is proud, but humility comes before honor. | 12Haughtiness goes before destruction; humility precedes honor. |
| 13The one who gives an answer before he listens--that is his folly and his shame. | 13Spouting off before listening to the facts is both shameful and foolish. |
| 14A person's spirit sustains him through sickness--but who can bear a crushed spirit? | 14The human spirit can endure a sick body, but who can bear a crushed spirit? |
| 15The discerning person acquires knowledge, and the wise person seeks knowledge. | 15Intelligent people are always ready to learn. Their ears are open for knowledge. |
| 16A person's gift makes room for him, and leads him before important people. | 16Giving a gift can open doors; it gives access to important people! |
| 17The first to state his case seems right, until his opponent begins to cross-examine him. | 17The first to speak in court sounds right— until the cross-examination begins. |
| 18A toss of a coin ends disputes, and settles the issue between strong opponents. | 18Flipping a coin can end arguments; it settles disputes between 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 friend is harder to win back than a fortified city. Arguments separate friends like a gate locked with bars. |
| 20From the fruit of a person's mouth his stomach is satisfied, with the product of his lips is he satisfied. | 20Wise words satisfy like a good meal; the right words bring satisfaction. |
| 21Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love its use will eat its fruit. | 21The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences. |
| 22The one who finds a wife finds what is enjoyable, and receives a pleasurable gift from the LORD. | 22The man who finds a wife finds a treasure, and he receives favor from the LORD. |
| 23A poor person makes supplications, but a rich man answers harshly. | 23The poor plead for mercy; the rich answer with insults. |
| 24A person who has friends may be harmed by them, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. | 24There are “friends” who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother. |
|
    |