Online Bible

Contrast the Upright and the Wicked

He who separates himself seeks his own desire,He ¹^aquarrels against all sound wisdom.2 A fool does not delight in understanding,But only ^ain revealing his own ¹mind.3 When a wicked man comes, contempt also comes,And with dishonor comes scorn.4 The words of a man’s mouth are ^adeep waters;¹The fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.5 To ^ashow partiality to the wicked is not good,Nor to ^bthrust aside the righteous in judgment.6 A fool’s lips ¹bring strife,And his mouth calls for ^ablows.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 body.9 He also who is ^aslack in his work^bIs brother to him who destroys.10 The ^aname of the LORD is a ^bstrong tower;The righteous runs into it and ^cis ¹safe.11 A ^arich man’s wealth is his strong city,And like a high wall in his own imagination.12 ^aBefore destruction the heart of man is haughty,But ^bhumility goes before honor.13 He who ^agives an answer 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 ¹^amind of the prudent acquires knowledge,And the ^bear of the wise seeks knowledge.16 A man’s ^agift makes room for himAnd brings him before 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 strifeAnd ¹decides between the mighty ones.19 A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city,And contentions are like the bars of a citadel.20 With the ¹^afruit of a man’s mouth his stomach will be satisfied;^bHe will be satisfied with the product of his lips.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 the LORD.23 The ^apoor man utters supplications,But the ^brich man ^canswers roughly.24 A man of too many friends comes to ¹ruin,But there is ^aa ²friend who sticks closer than a brother.