18 Whoever ^(A)isolates himself seeks his own desire;
    he breaks out against all sound judgment.
² A fool takes no pleasure in understanding,
    but only ^(B)in expressing his opinion.
³ When wickedness comes, contempt comes also,
    and with dishonor comes disgrace.
⁴ The words of a man's mouth are ^(C)deep waters;
    the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.
⁵ It is not good to ^(D)be partial to^[a] the wicked
    or to ^(E)deprive the righteous of justice.
⁶ A fool's lips walk into a fight,
    and his mouth invites ^(F)a beating.
^7 (G)A fool's mouth is his ruin,
    and his lips are a snare to his soul.
^8 (H)The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels;
    they go down into ^(I)the inner parts of the body.
⁹ Whoever is slack in his work
    is a ^(J)brother to him who destroys.
^10 (K)The name of the Lord is ^(L)a strong tower;
    the righteous man runs into it and ^(M)is safe.
^11 (N)A rich man's wealth is his strong city,
    and like a high wall in his imagination.
^12 (O)Before destruction a man's heart is haughty,
    but ^(P)humility comes before honor.
¹³ If one gives an answer ^(Q)before he hears,
    it is his folly and shame.
¹⁴ A man's spirit will endure sickness,
    but ^(R)a crushed spirit who can bear?
¹⁵ An intelligent heart acquires knowledge,
    and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
¹⁶ A man's ^(S)gift makes room for him
    and brings him before the great.
¹⁷ The one who states his case first seems right,
    until the other comes and examines him.
^18 (T)The lot puts an end to quarrels
    and decides between powerful contenders.
¹⁹ A brother offended is more unyielding than a strong city,
    and quarreling is like the bars of a castle.
^20 (U)From the fruit of a man's mouth his stomach is satisfied;
    he is satisfied by the yield of his lips.
^21 (V)Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
    and those who love it will eat its fruits.
²² He who finds ^(W)a wife finds ^(X)a good thing
    and ^(Y)obtains favor ^(Z)from the Lord.
²³ The poor use entreaties,
    but ^(AA)the rich answer roughly.
²⁴ A man of many companions may come to ruin,
    but ^(AB)there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

19 ^(A)Better is a poor person who ^(B)walks in his integrity
    than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool.
² Desire^[a] without knowledge is not good,
    and whoever ^(C)makes haste with his feet misses his way.
³ When a man's folly ^(D)brings his way to ruin,
    his heart ^(E)rages against the Lord.
^4 (F)Wealth brings many new friends,
    ^(G)but a poor man is deserted by his friend.
^5 (H)A false witness will not go unpunished,
    and he who ^(I)breathes out lies will not escape.
⁶ Many seek the favor of a generous man,^[b]
    and everyone is a friend to a man who gives ^(J)gifts.
^7 (K)All a poor man's brothers hate him;
    ^(L)how much more do his friends go far from him!
He pursues them with words, but does not have them.^[c]
8 (M)Whoever gets sense loves his own soul;
    he who keeps understanding will ^(N)discover good.
^9 (O)A false witness will not go unpunished,
    and he who ^(P)breathes out lies will perish.
^10 (Q)It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury,
    much less for ^(R)a slave to rule over princes.
^11 (S)Good sense makes one slow to anger,
    and it is his glory to overlook an offense.
¹² A king's wrath is like ^(T)the growling of a lion,
    but his ^(U)favor is like ^(V)dew on the grass.
^13 (W)A foolish son is ruin to his father,
    and ^(X)a wife's quarreling is ^(Y)a continual dripping of rain.
^14 (Z)House and wealth are inherited from fathers,
    but a prudent wife is ^(AA)from the Lord.
^15 (AB)Slothfulness casts into ^(AC)a deep sleep,
    and ^(AD)an idle person will suffer hunger.
¹⁶ Whoever ^(AE)keeps the commandment keeps his life;
    he who despises his ways will die.
^17 (AF)Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord,
    and he ^(AG)will repay him for his ^(AH)deed.
^18 (AI)Discipline your son, for there is hope;
    do not set your heart on ^(AJ)putting him to death.
¹⁹ A man of great wrath will pay the penalty,
    for if you deliver him, you will only have to do it again.
²⁰ Listen to advice and accept instruction,
    that you may gain wisdom in ^(AK)the future.
^21 (AL)Many are the plans in the mind of a man,
    but ^(AM)it is the purpose of the Lord ^(AN)that will stand.
²² What is desired in a man is steadfast love,
    and a poor man is better than a liar.
²³ The fear of the Lord ^(AO)leads to life,
    and whoever has it rests ^(AP)satisfied;
    he will ^(AQ)not be visited by harm.
^24 (AR)The sluggard buries his hand in ^(AS)the dish
    and will not even bring it back to his mouth.
^25 (AT)Strike ^(AU)a scoffer, and the simple will ^(AV)learn prudence;
    ^(AW)reprove a man of understanding, and he will gain knowledge.
²⁶ He who does violence to his father and chases away his mother
    is ^(AX)a son who brings shame and reproach.
²⁷ Cease to hear instruction, my son,
    ^(AY)and you will stray from the words of knowledge.
²⁸ A worthless witness mocks at justice,
    and the mouth of the wicked ^(AZ)devours iniquity.
²⁹ Condemnation is ready for ^(BA)scoffers,
    and ^(BB)beating for the backs of fools.