1 Hy wat hom afskei, soek sy eie begeerte; hy bestry alles wat waarlik tot voordeel strek.

2 Die dwaas het geen behae in verstandigheid nie, maar net daarin dat sy hart openbaar word.

3 As die goddelose kom, kom ook veragting; en saam met die skande, versmading.

4 Die woorde van 'n man se mond is diep waters, 'n stroom wat bruis, 'n fontein van wysheid.

5 Om vir die goddelose partydig te wees, om die regverdige in die gereg weg te stoot, is nie goed nie.

6 Die lippe van die dwaas kom met getwis, en sy mond roep na slae.

7 Die mond van die dwaas is sy ondergang en sy lippe 'n strik vir sy lewe.

8 Die woorde van die kwaadstoker is soos lekkernye, en dit gly af na die kamers van die binneste.

9 Alreeds hy wat hom slap hou in sy werk, hy is 'n broer van 'n verwoester.

10 Die Naam van die HERE is 'n sterk toring; die regverdige hardloop daarin en word beskut.

11 Die goed van die ryke is sy sterk stad en soos 'n steil muur in sy verbeelding.

12 Voor die verbreking is die mens se hart hoogmoedig, maar nederigheid gaan aan die eer vooraf.

13 Hy wat antwoord gee voordat hy gehoor het, vir hom sal dit 'n sotheid en 'n skande wees.

14 Die gees van 'n man ondersteun hom in sy krankheid; maar 'n verslae gees -- wie kan dit opbeur?

15 Die hart van die verstandige verwerf kennis, en die oor van wyse soek na kennis.

16 Die geskenk van iemand maak vir hom ruimte en bring hom in die teenwoordigheid van die aansienlikes.

17 Hy wat die eerste in sy regsaak is, het reg; maar sy naaste kom en ondersoek hom terdeë.

18 Die lot laat die geskille ophou en maak sterkes uitmekaar.

19 'n Broer teen wie oortree is, is erger as 'n sterk stad; en geskille is soos die grendel van 'n paleis.

20 Van die vrug van iemand se mond word sy maag versadig; hy word versadig van die opbrings van sy lippe.

21 Dood en lewe is in die mag van die tong; en elkeen wat dit graag gebruik, sal die vrug daarvan eet.

22 Wie 'n vrou gevind het, het iets goeds gevind en 'n welgevalle van die HERE verkry.

23 Die arme spreek smekinge, maar die ryke antwoord harde dinge.

24 'n Man met baie vriende word geru‹neer, maar daar is 'n vriend wat sterker aanhang as 'n broer.

1 He that separateth himself seeketh his own desire,

And rageth against all sound wisdom.

2 A fool hath no delight in understanding,

But only that his heart may reveal itself.

3 When the wicked cometh, there cometh also contempt,

And with ignominy cometh reproach.

4 The words of a man’s mouth are as deep waters;

The wellspring of wisdom is as a flowing brook.

5 To respect the person of the wicked is not good,

Nor to turn aside the righteous in judgment.

6 A fool’s lips enter into contention,

And his mouth calleth for stripes.

7 A fool’s mouth is his destruction,

And his lips are the snare of his soul.

8 The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels,

And they go down into the innermost parts.

9 He also that is slack in his work

Is brother to him that is a destroyer.

10 The name of Jehovah is a strong tower;

The righteous runneth into it, and is safe.

11 The rich man’s wealth is his strong city,

And as a high wall in his own imagination.

12 Before destruction the heart of man is haughty;

And before honor goeth humility.

13 He that giveth answer before he heareth,

It is folly and shame unto him.

14 The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity;

But a broken spirit who can bear?

15 The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge;

And the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.

16 A man’s gift maketh room for him,

And bringeth him before great men.

17 He that pleadeth his cause first seemeth just;

But his neighbor cometh and searcheth him out.

18 The lot causeth contentions to cease,

And parteth between the mighty.

19 A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city;

And such contentions are like the bars of a castle.

20 A man’s belly shall be filled with the fruit of his mouth;

With the increase of his lips shall he be satisfied.

21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue;

And they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

22 Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing,

And obtaineth favor of Jehovah.

23 The poor useth entreaties;

But the rich answereth roughly.

24 He that maketh many friends doeth it to his own destruction;

But there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.