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.

13 A wise son hears his father's instruction,
    but ^(A)a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.
² From the fruit of his mouth a man ^(B)eats what is good,
    but the desire of the treacherous ^(C)is for violence.
^3 (D)Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life;
    ^(E)he who opens wide his lips ^(F)comes to ruin.
^4 (G)The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing,
    while the soul of the diligent ^(H)is richly supplied.
⁵ The righteous hates falsehood,
    but the wicked brings shame^[a] and disgrace.
^6 (I)Righteousness guards him whose ^(J)way is blameless,
    but sin overthrows the wicked.
^7 (K)One pretends to be rich,^[b] yet has nothing;
    ^(L)another pretends to be poor,^[c] yet has great wealth.
⁸ The ransom of a man's life is his wealth,
    but a poor man ^(M)hears no threat.
^9 (N)The light of the righteous rejoices,
    but ^(O)the lamp of the wicked will be put out.
^10 (P)By insolence comes nothing but strife,
    but with those who take advice is wisdom.
^11 (Q)Wealth gained hastily^[d] will dwindle,
    but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.
¹² Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
    ^(R)but a desire fulfilled is ^(S)a tree of life.
¹³ Whoever ^(T)despises ^(U)the word^[e] brings destruction on himself,
    but he who reveres the commandment^[f] will be ^(V)rewarded.
¹⁴ The teaching of the wise is ^(W)a fountain of life,
    that one may ^(X)turn away from the snares of death.
^15 (Y)Good sense wins ^(Z)favor,
    but the way of the treacherous is their ruin.^[g]
16 (AA)Every prudent man acts with knowledge,
    ^(AB)but a fool flaunts his folly.
¹⁷ A wicked messenger falls into trouble,
    but ^(AC)a faithful envoy brings healing.
¹⁸ Poverty and disgrace come to him who ^(AD)ignores instruction,
    ^(AE)but whoever ^(AF)heeds reproof is honored.
^19 (AG)A desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul,
    but to turn away from evil is an abomination to fools.
²⁰ Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise,
    but the companion of fools will suffer harm.
^21 (AH)Disaster^[h] pursues sinners,
    ^(AI)but the righteous are rewarded with good.
^22 (AJ)A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children,
    but ^(AK)the sinner's wealth is laid up for the righteous.
²³ The fallow ground of the poor would yield much food,
    but it is swept away through ^(AL)injustice.
^24 (AM)Whoever spares the rod hates his son,
    but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.^[i]
25 (AN)The righteous has enough to satisfy his appetite,
    but the belly of the wicked suffers want.