| New International Version | NET Bible |
| 1An unfriendly person pursues selfish ends and against all sound judgment starts quarrels. | 1One who has isolated himself seeks his own desires; he rejects all sound judgment. |
| 2Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. | 2A fool takes no pleasure in understanding but only in disclosing what is on his mind. |
| 3When wickedness comes, so does contempt, and with shame comes reproach. | 3When a wicked person arrives, contempt shows up with him, and with shame comes a reproach. |
| 4The words of the mouth are deep waters, but the fountain of wisdom is a rushing stream. | 4The words of a person's mouth are like deep waters, and the fountain of wisdom is like a flowing brook. |
| 5It is not good to be partial to the wicked and so deprive the innocent of justice. | 5It is terrible to show partiality to the wicked, by depriving a righteous man of justice. |
| 6The lips of fools bring them strife, and their mouths invite a beating. | 6The lips of a fool enter into strife, and his mouth invites a flogging. |
| 7The mouths of fools are their undoing, and their lips are a snare to their very lives. | 7The mouth of a fool is his ruin, and his lips are a snare for his life. |
| 8The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts. | 8The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down into the person's innermost being. |
| 9One who is slack in his work is brother to one who destroys. | 9The one who is slack in his work is a brother to one who destroys. |
| 10The name of the LORD is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe. | 10The name of the LORD is like a strong tower; the righteous person runs to it and is set safely on high. |
| 11The wealth of the rich is their fortified city; they imagine it a wall too high to scale. | 11The wealth of a rich person is like a strong city, and it is like a high wall in his imagination. |
| 12Before a downfall the heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor. | 12Before destruction the heart of a person 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--that is his folly and his shame. |
| 14The human spirit can endure in sickness, but a crushed spirit who can bear? | 14A person's spirit sustains him through sickness--but who can bear a crushed spirit? |
| 15The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, for the ears of the wise seek it out. | 15The discerning person acquires knowledge, and the wise person seeks knowledge. |
| 16A gift opens the way and ushers the giver into the presence of the great. | 16A person's gift makes room for him, and leads him before important people. |
| 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 his opponent begins to cross-examine him. |
| 18Casting the lot settles disputes and keeps strong opponents apart. | 18A toss of a coin ends disputes, and settles the issue between strong opponents. |
| 19A brother wronged is more unyielding than a fortified city; disputes are like the barred gates of a citadel. | 19A relative offended is harder to reach than a strong city, and disputes are like the barred gates of a fortified citadel. |
| 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 a person's mouth his stomach is satisfied, with the product of his lips is he satisfied. |
| 21The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. | 21Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love its use will eat its fruit. |
| 22He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the LORD. | 22The one who finds a wife finds what is enjoyable, and receives a pleasurable gift from the LORD. |
| 23The poor plead for mercy, but the rich answer harshly. | 23A poor person makes supplications, but a rich man answers harshly. |
| 24One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. | 24A person who has friends may be harmed by them, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. |
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