27 A worthless person digs up evil,
and his speech is like a scorching fire.(A)

28 A contrary person spreads conflict,
and a gossip separates close friends.(B)

29 A violent person lures his neighbor,(C)
leading him on a path that is not good.(D)

30 The one who narrows his eyes is planning deceptions;
the one who compresses his lips brings about evil.(E)

Read full chapter

27 (A)A worthless man plots evil,
    and his speech[a] is like (B)a scorching fire.
28 (C)A dishonest man spreads strife,
    and (D)a whisperer (E)separates close friends.
29 A man of violence (F)entices his neighbor
    and leads him in a way that is not good.
30 Whoever winks his eyes plans[b] (G)dishonest things;
    he who (H)purses his lips brings evil to pass.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 16:27 Hebrew what is on his lips
  2. Proverbs 16:30 Hebrew to plan

A wicked person listens to malicious talk;[a]
a liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 17:4 Lit to lips of iniquity

An evildoer listens to wicked lips,
    and a liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.

Read full chapter

Whoever conceals an offense promotes love,(A)
but whoever gossips about it separates friends.(B)

Read full chapter

Whoever (A)covers an offense seeks love,
    but he who repeats a matter (B)separates close friends.

Read full chapter

19 One who loves to offend loves strife;(A)
one who builds a high threshold invites injury.

20 One with a twisted mind will not succeed,
and one with deceitful speech will fall into ruin.(B)

Read full chapter

19 Whoever loves transgression loves strife;
    he who (A)makes his door high seeks destruction.
20 (B)A man of crooked heart does not discover good,
    and one with a dishonest tongue falls into calamity.

Read full chapter

24 Wisdom is the focus of the perceptive,
but a fool’s eyes(A) roam to the ends of the earth.

Read full chapter

24 (A)The discerning sets his face toward wisdom,
    but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.

Read full chapter

18 One who isolates himself pursues selfish desires;
he rebels against all sound wisdom.

A fool does not delight in understanding,
but only wants to show off his opinions.[a](A)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 18:2 Lit to uncover his heart

18 Whoever (A)isolates himself seeks his own desire;
    he breaks out against all sound judgment.
A fool takes no pleasure in understanding,
    but only (B)in expressing his opinion.

Read full chapter

23 The poor person pleads,(A)
but the rich one answers roughly.(B)

Read full chapter

23 The poor use entreaties,
    but (A)the rich answer roughly.

Read full chapter

Wealth attracts many friends,(A)
but a poor person is separated from his friend.

Read full chapter

(A)Wealth brings many new friends,
    (B)but a poor man is deserted by his friend.

Read full chapter

Many seek a ruler’s favor,(A)
and everyone is a friend of one who gives gifts.(B)

Read full chapter

Many seek the favor of a generous man,[a]
    and everyone is a friend to a man who gives (A)gifts.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 19:6 Or of a noble

Many a person proclaims his own loyalty,
but who can find a trustworthy person?(A)

Read full chapter

Many a man (A)proclaims his own steadfast love,
    but (B)a faithful man who can find?

Read full chapter

A king sitting on a throne to judge
separates out all evil with his eyes.(A)

Read full chapter

(A)A king who sits on the throne of judgment
    (B)winnows all evil with his eyes.

Read full chapter

14 “It’s worthless, it’s worthless!” the buyer says,
but after he is on his way, he gloats.

Read full chapter

14 “Bad, bad,” says the buyer,
    but when he goes away, then he boasts.

Read full chapter

19 The one who reveals secrets is a constant gossip;(A)
avoid someone with a big mouth.(B)

Read full chapter

19 Whoever (A)goes about slandering reveals secrets;
    therefore do not associate with (B)a simple babbler.[a]

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 20:19 Hebrew with one who is simple in his lips