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27 A worthless man devises mischief.
    His speech is like a scorching fire.
28 A perverse man stirs up strife.
    A whisperer separates close friends.
29 A man of violence entices his neighbor,
    and leads him in a way that is not good.
30 One who winks his eyes to plot perversities,
    one who compresses his lips, is bent on evil.

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27 A scoundrel(A) plots evil,
    and on their lips it is like a scorching fire.(B)

28 A perverse person stirs up conflict,(C)
    and a gossip separates close friends.(D)

29 A violent person entices their neighbor
    and leads them down a path that is not good.(E)

30 Whoever winks(F) with their eye is plotting perversity;
    whoever purses their lips is bent on evil.

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An evildoer heeds wicked lips.
    A liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.

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A wicked person listens to deceitful lips;
    a liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.

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He who covers an offense promotes love;
    but he who repeats a matter separates best friends.

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Whoever would foster love covers over an offense,(A)
    but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.(B)

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19 He who loves disobedience loves strife.
    One who builds a high gate seeks destruction.
20 One who has a perverse heart doesn’t find prosperity,
    and one who has a deceitful tongue falls into trouble.

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19 Whoever loves a quarrel loves sin;
    whoever builds a high gate invites destruction.

20 One whose heart is corrupt does not prosper;
    one whose tongue is perverse falls into trouble.

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24 Wisdom is before the face of one who has understanding,
    but the eyes of a fool wander to the ends of the earth.

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24 A discerning person keeps wisdom in view,
    but a fool’s eyes(A) wander to the ends of the earth.

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18 A man who isolates himself pursues selfishness,
    and defies all sound judgment.
A fool has no delight in understanding,
    but only in revealing his own opinion.

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18 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.(A)

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23 The poor plead for mercy,
    but the rich answer harshly.

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23 The poor plead for mercy,
    but the rich answer harshly.

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Wealth adds many friends,
    but the poor is separated from his friend.

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Wealth attracts many friends,
    but even the closest friend of the poor person deserts them.(A)

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Many will entreat the favor of a ruler,
    and everyone is a friend to a man who gives gifts.

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Many curry favor with a ruler,(A)
    and everyone is the friend of one who gives gifts.(B)

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Many men claim to be men of unfailing love,
    but who can find a faithful man?

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Many claim to have unfailing love,
    but a faithful person who can find?(A)

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A king who sits on the throne of judgment
    scatters away all evil with his eyes.

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When a king sits on his throne to judge,(A)
    he winnows out all evil with his eyes.(B)

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14 “It’s no good, it’s no good,” says the buyer;
    but when he is gone his way, then he boasts.

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14 “It’s no good, it’s no good!” says the buyer—
    then goes off and boasts about the purchase.

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19 He who goes about as a tale-bearer reveals secrets;
    therefore don’t keep company with him who opens wide his lips.

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19 A gossip betrays a confidence;(A)
    so avoid anyone who talks too much.

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