Solomonic proverbs
An unfriendly person pursues selfish ends and against all sound judgment starts quarrels. Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. When wickedness comes, so does contempt, and with shame comes reproach. The words of the mouth are deep waters, but the fountain of wisdom is a rushing stream. It is not good to be partial to the wicked and so deprive the innocent of justice. The lips of fools bring them strife, and their mouths invite a beating. The mouths of fools are their undoing, and their lips are a snare to their very lives. The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts. One who is slack in his work is brother to one who destroys. The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe. The wealth of the rich is their fortified city; they imagine it a wall too high to scale. Before a downfall the heart is haughty, but humility comes before honour. To answer before listening — that is folly and shame. The human spirit can endure in sickness, but a crushed spirit who can bear? The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, for the ears of the wise seek it out. A gift opens the way and ushers the giver into the presence of the great. In a lawsuit the first to speak seems right, until someone comes forward and cross-examines. Casting the lot settles disputes and keeps strong opponents apart. A brother wronged is more unyielding than a fortified city; disputes are like the barred gates of a citadel. From the fruit of their mouth a person's stomach is filled; with the harvest of their lips they are satisfied. The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favour from the Lord. The poor plead for mercy, but the rich answer harshly. One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
An unfriendly person pursues selfish ends and against all sound judgment starts quarrels.
Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom.
Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions.
A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.
When wickedness comes, so does contempt, and with shame comes reproach.
When the wicked cometh, then cometh also contempt, and with ignominy reproach.
The words of the mouth are deep waters, but the fountain of wisdom is a rushing stream.
The words of a man’s mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook.
It is not good to be partial to the wicked and so deprive the innocent of justice.
It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment.
The lips of fools bring them strife, and their mouths invite a beating.
A fool’s lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes.
The mouths of fools are their undoing, and their lips are a snare to their very lives.
A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.
The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts.
The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
One who is slack in his work is brother to one who destroys.
He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.
The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.
The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.
The wealth of the rich is their fortified city; they imagine it a wall too high to scale.
The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, and as an high wall in his own conceit.
Before a downfall the heart is haughty, but humility comes before honour.
Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.
To answer before listening — that is folly and shame.
He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.
The human spirit can endure in sickness, but a crushed spirit who can bear?
The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?
The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, for the ears of the wise seek it out.
The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.
A gift opens the way and ushers the giver into the presence of the great.
A man’s gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.
In a lawsuit the first to speak seems right, until someone comes forward and cross-examines.
He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him.
Casting the lot settles disputes and keeps strong opponents apart.
The lot causeth contentions to cease, and parteth between the mighty.
A brother wronged is more unyielding than a fortified city; disputes are like the barred gates of a citadel.
A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.
From the fruit of their mouth a person's stomach is filled; with the harvest of their lips they are satisfied.
A man’s belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.
The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favour from the Lord.
Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.
The poor plead for mercy, but the rich answer harshly.
The poor useth intreaties; but the rich answereth roughly.
One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.