Online Bible

He who separates himself seeks his own desire,He ^abreaks out in dispute against all sound wisdom.2 A fool does not delight in discernment,But only ^ain revealing his own heart.3 When a wicked man comes, despising also comes,And with disgrace comes reproach.4 The words of a man’s mouth are ^adeep waters;¹The fountain of wisdom is a flowing brook.5 To ^ashow partiality to the wicked is not good,Nor to ^bthrust aside the righteous in judgment.6 A fool’s lips come with strife,And his mouth calls for ^abeatings.7 A ^afool’s mouth is his ruin,And his lips are the snare of his soul.8 The words of a whisperer are like dainty morsels,And they go down into the ¹innermost parts of the stomach.9 He also who is ^aslack in his work^bIs brother to him who destroys.10 The ^aname of Yahweh is a ^bstrong tower;The righteous runs into it and is ^cset securely on high.11 A ^arich man’s wealth is his strong city,And like a high wall in his own delusion.12 ^aBefore destruction the heart of man is haughty,But ^bhumility goes before glory.13 He who ^aresponds with a word before he hears,It is folly and shame to him.14 The ^aspirit of a man can endure his sickness,But as for a ^bbroken spirit, who can bear it?15 The ^aheart of the understanding acquires knowledge,And the ^bear of the wise seeks knowledge.16 A man’s ^agift makes room for himAnd leads him into the presence of great men.17 The first ¹to plead his case seems right,Until ²another comes and examines him.18 The cast ^alot puts an end to contentionsAnd ¹decides between the mighty ones.19 A brother offended is harder to win over than a strong city,And contentions are like the bars of a citadel.20 From the ¹^afruit of a man’s mouth his stomach will be satisfied;^bWith the produce of his lips he will be satisfied.21 ^aDeath and life are in the ¹power of the tongue,And those who love it will eat its ^bfruit.22 He who finds a ^awife finds a good thingAnd ^bobtains favor from Yahweh.23 The ^apoor man speaks supplications,But the ^brich man ^canswers with strong words.24 A man of too many friends comes to ¹ruin,But there is ^aa ²friend who sticks closer than a brother.