28ALSO A FOOL [WHO] KEEPS SILENT WISE HE IS CONSIDERED [WHO] SHUTS LIPS HIS DISCERNING 28Even a fool is considered wise if he keeps silent, and discerning when he holds his tongue.
1<TO> DESIRE HE SEEKS [ONE WHO] SEPARATES HIMSELF ON ALL SOUND WISDOM HE BURSTS OUT The Selfishness of the Unfriendly 1He who isolates himself pursues selfish desires; he rebels against all sound judgment.
2NOT HE DELIGHTS A FOOL IN UNDERSTANDING THAT EXCEPT IN REVEALING ITSELF HEART HIS 2A fool does not delight in understanding, but only in airing his opinions.
3WHEN COMES A WICKED [PERSON] IT COMES ALSO CONTEMPT AND WITH SHAME REPROACH 3With a wicked man comes contempt as well, and shame is accompanied by disgrace.
4[ARE] WATERS DEEP [THE] WORDS OF [THE] MOUTH OF A PERSON A WADI FLOWING A FOUNTAIN OF WISDOM 4The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters; the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.
5TO LIFT UP [THE] FACE OF A WICKED [PERSON] NOT [IS] GOOD TO TURN ASIDE A RIGHTEOUS [PERSON] IN <THE> JUDGMENT 5Showing partiality*NoteCloseHebrew Lifting the face to the wicked is not good, nor is depriving the innocent of justice.
6[THE] LIPS OF A FOOL THEY GO IN STRIFE AND MOUTH HIS FOR BLOWS IT CALLS 6A fool’s lips bring him strife, and his mouth invites a beating.
7[THE] MOUTH OF A FOOL [IS] RUIN OF HIM AND LIPS HIS [ARE] [THE] SNARE OF LIFE HIS 7A fool’s mouth is his ruin and his lips are a snare to his soul.
8[THE] WORDS OF A SLANDERER [ARE] LIKE DELICACIES AND THEY THEY GO DOWN [THE] CHAMBERS OF [THE] BELLY 8The words of a gossip are like choice morsels that go down into the inmost being.
9ALSO [ONE WHO] SHOWS HIMSELF IDLE IN WORK HIS [IS] A BROTHER HE OF A MASTER OF DESTRUCTION 9Whoever is slothful in his work is brother to him who destroys.
10[IS] A TOWER OF STRENGTH [THE] NAME OF YAHWEH IN IT HE RUNS A RIGHTEOUS [PERSON] AND HE IS SET ON HIGH 10The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it*NoteCloseOr to Him and are safe.
11[THE] WEALTH OF A RICH [PERSON] [IS] [THE] TOWN OF STRENGTH HIS AND LIKE A WALL HIGH IN OWN IMAGINATION HIS 11A rich man’s wealth is his fortified city; it is like a high wall in his imagination.
12<TO> BEFORE DESTRUCTION IT IS HAUGHTY [THE] HEART OF A PERSON AND [IS] <TO> BEFORE HONOR HUMILITY 12Before his downfall a man’s heart is proud, but humility comes before honor.
13[ONE WHO] BRINGS BACK A WORD <IN> BEFORE HE LISTENS [IS] FOLLY IT OF HIM AND IGNOMINY 13He who answers a matter before he hears it— this is folly and disgrace to him.
14[THE] SPIRIT OF A PERSON IT WILL ENDURE SICKNESS HIS AND A SPIRIT STRICKEN WHO? WILL HE BEAR IT 14The spirit of a man can endure his sickness, but who can survive a broken spirit?
15A HEART DISCERNING IT ACQUIRES KNOWLEDGE AND [THE] EAR OF WISE [PEOPLE] IT SEEKS KNOWLEDGE 15The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks it out.
16[THE] GIFT OF A PERSON IT MAKES SPACE FOR HIM AND <TO> BEFORE GREAT [PEOPLE] IT LEADS HIM 16A man’s gift opens doors for him, and brings him before great men.
17[IS] RIGHTEOUS THE FIRST IN CASE HIS AND HE WILL COME NEIGHBOR HIS AND HE WILL EXAMINE HIM 17The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him.
18CONTENTIONS IT PUTS AN END TO THE LOT AND BETWEEN MIGHTY [PEOPLE] IT SEPARATES 18Casting the lot ends quarrels and separates strong opponents.
19A BROTHER TRANSGRESSED [IS] MORE THAN A TOWN OF STRENGTH AND CONTENTIONS [ARE] LIKE [THE] BAR OF A FORTRESS 19An offended brother is harder to win than a fortified city, and disputes are like the bars of a castle.
20FROM [THE] FRUIT OF [THE] MOUTH OF A PERSON IT IS SATISFIED BELLY HIS [THE] PRODUCE OF LIPS HIS HE IS SATISFIED 20From the fruit of his mouth a man’s belly is filled; with the harvest from his lips he is satisfied.
21DEATH AND LIFE [ARE] IN [THE] HAND OF [THE] TONGUE AND [THOSE WHO] LOVE IT HE WILL EAT FRUIT ITS 21Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
22HE FINDS A WIFE HE FINDS A GOOD THING AND HE OBTAINED PLEASURE FROM YAHWEH 22He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the LORD.
23SUPPLICATIONS HE SPEAKS A POOR [PERSON] AND A RICH [PERSON] HE ANSWERS STRONG [WORDS] 23The poor man pleads for mercy, but the rich man answers harshly.
24A PERSON OF COMPANIONS [IS] TO BE BROKEN AND THERE [IS ONE WHO] LOVES CLEAVING MORE THAN A BROTHER 24A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother.