| New King James Version | NET Bible |
| 1A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire; He rages against all wise judgment. | 1One who has isolated himself seeks his own desires; he rejects all sound judgment. |
| 2A fool has no delight in understanding, But in expressing his own heart. | 2A fool takes no pleasure in understanding but only in disclosing what is on his mind. |
| 3When the wicked comes, contempt comes also; And with dishonor comes reproach. | 3When a wicked person arrives, contempt shows up with him, and with shame comes a reproach. |
| 4The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters; The wellspring of wisdom is a flowing brook. | 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 show partiality to the wicked, Or to overthrow the righteous in judgment. | 5It is terrible to show partiality to the wicked, by depriving a righteous man of justice. |
| 6A fool’s lips enter into contention, And his mouth calls for blows. | 6The lips of a fool enter into strife, and his mouth invites a flogging. |
| 7A fool’s mouth is his destruction, And his lips are the snare of his soul. | 7The mouth of a fool is his ruin, and his lips are a snare for his life. |
| 8The words of a talebearer are like tasty trifles, And they go down into the inmost body. | 8The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down into the person's innermost being. |
| 9He who is slothful in his work Is a brother to him who is a great destroyer. | 9The one who is slack in his work is a brother to one who destroys. |
| 10The name of the LORD is a strong 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 rich man’s wealth is his strong city, And like a high wall in his own esteem. | 11The wealth of a rich person is like a strong city, and it is like a high wall in his imagination. |
| 12Before destruction the heart of a man is haughty, And before honor is humility. | 12Before destruction the heart of a person is proud, but humility comes before honor. |
| 13He who answers a matter before he hears it, It is folly and shame to him. | 13The one who gives an answer before he listens--that is his folly and his shame. |
| 14The spirit of a man will sustain him in sickness, But who can bear a broken spirit? | 14A person's spirit sustains him through sickness--but who can bear a crushed spirit? |
| 15The heart of the prudent acquires knowledge, And the ear of the wise seeks knowledge. | 15The discerning person acquires knowledge, and the wise person seeks knowledge. |
| 16A man’s gift makes room for him, And brings him before great men. | 16A person's gift makes room for him, and leads him before important people. |
| 17The first one to plead his cause seems right, Until his neighbor comes and examines him. | 17The first to state his case seems right, until his opponent begins to cross-examine him. |
| 18Casting lots causes contentions to cease, And keeps the mighty apart. | 18A toss of a coin ends disputes, and settles the issue between strong opponents. |
| 19A brother offended is harder to win than a strong city, And contentions are like the bars of a castle. | 19A relative offended is harder to reach than a strong city, and disputes are like the barred gates of a fortified citadel. |
| 20A man’s stomach shall be satisfied from the fruit of his mouth; From the produce of his lips he shall be filled. | 20From the fruit of a person's mouth his stomach is satisfied, with the product of his lips is he satisfied. |
| 21Death and life are in the power of the tongue, 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 a good thing, And obtains favor from the LORD. | 22The one who finds a wife finds what is enjoyable, and receives a pleasurable gift from the LORD. |
| 23The poor man uses entreaties, But the rich answers roughly. | 23A poor person makes supplications, but a rich man answers harshly. |
| 24A man who has friends must himself be friendly, 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. |
|
    |