¹One who has isolated himself seeks his own desires; he rejects all sound judgment. ²A fool takes no pleasure in understanding but only in disclosing what is on his mind. ³When a wicked person arrives, contempt shows up with him, and with shame comes a reproach. ⁴The words of a person’s mouth are like deep waters, and the fountain of wisdom is like a flowing brook. ⁵It is terrible to show partiality to the wicked by depriving a righteous man of justice. ⁶The lips of a fool enter into strife, and his mouth invites a flogging. ⁷The mouth of a fool is his ruin, and his lips are a snare for his life. ⁸The words of a gossip are like choice morsels, and they have gone down into the person’s innermost being. ⁹The one who is slack in his work is a brother to one who destroys. ¹⁰The name of the Lord is like a strong tower; the righteous person runs to it and is set safely on high.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 person is proud, but humility comes before honor. ¹³The one who gives an answer before he listens— that is his folly and his shame. ¹⁴A person’s spirit sustains him through sickness— but who can bear a crushed spirit? ¹⁵The discerning person acquires knowledge, and the wise person seeks knowledge. ¹⁶A person’s gift makes room for him and leads him before important people.¹⁷The first to state his case seems right, until his opponent begins to cross-examine him.¹⁸A toss of a coin ends disputes and settles the issue between strong opponents. ¹⁹A relative offended is harder to reach than a strong city, and disputes are like the barred gates of a fortified citadel. ²⁰From the fruit of a person’s mouth his stomach will be satisfied; with the product of his lips he will be satisfied.²¹Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love its use will eat its fruit. ²²The one who has found a good wife has found what goodness is and obtained a delightful gift from the Lord. ²³A poor person makes supplications, but a rich man answers harshly. ²⁴There are companions who harm one another, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.