| New International Version | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1An unfriendly person pursues selfish ends and against all sound judgment starts quarrels. | 1One who isolates himself pursues selfish desires; he rebels against all sound judgment. |
| 2Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. | 2A fool does not delight in understanding, but only wants to show off his opinions. |
| 3When wickedness comes, so does contempt, and with shame comes reproach. | 3When a wicked man comes, contempt also does, and along with dishonor, disgrace. |
| 4The words of the mouth are deep waters, but the fountain of wisdom is a rushing stream. | 4The words of a man's mouth are deep waters, a flowing river, a fountain of wisdom. |
| 5It is not good to be partial to the wicked and so deprive the innocent of justice. | 5It is not good to show partiality to the guilty by perverting the justice due the innocent. |
| 6The lips of fools bring them strife, and their mouths invite a beating. | 6A fool's lips lead to strife, and his mouth provokes a beating. |
| 7The mouths of fools are their undoing, and their lips are a snare to their very lives. | 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 to the inmost parts. | 8A gossip's words are like choice food that goes down to one's innermost being. |
| 9One who is slack in his work is 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 a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe. | 10The name of Yahweh is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are protected. |
| 11The wealth of the rich is their fortified city; they imagine it a wall too high to scale. | 11A rich man's wealth is his fortified city; in his imagination it is like a high wall. |
| 12Before a downfall the heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor. | 12Before his downfall a man's heart is proud, but humility comes before honor. |
| 13To answer before listening-- that is folly and shame. | 13The one who gives an answer before he listens-- this is foolishness and disgrace for him. |
| 14The human spirit can endure in sickness, but a crushed spirit who can bear? | 14A man's spirit can endure sickness, but who can survive a broken spirit? |
| 15The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, for the ears of the wise seek it out. | 15The mind of the discerning acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks it. |
| 16A gift opens the way and ushers the giver into the presence of the great. | 16A gift opens doors for a man and brings him before the great. |
| 17In a lawsuit the first to speak seems right, until someone comes forward and cross-examines. | 17The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him. |
| 18Casting the lot settles disputes and keeps strong opponents apart. | 18Casting the lot ends quarrels and separates powerful opponents. |
| 19A brother wronged is more unyielding than a fortified city; disputes are like the barred gates of a 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 their mouth a person's stomach is filled; with the harvest of their lips they are satisfied. | 20From the fruit of his mouth a man's stomach is satisfied; he is filled with the product of his lips. |
| 21The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. | 21Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit. |
| 22He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the LORD. | 22A man who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the LORD. |
| 23The poor plead for mercy, but the rich answer harshly. | 23The poor man pleads, but the rich one answers roughly. |
| 24One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, 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. |
| 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. | Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. |
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