1 O solitário busca o seu próprio interesse
e insurge-se contra a verdadeira sabedoria.
2 O insensato não tem prazer no entendimento,
senão em externar o seu interior.
3 Vindo a perversidade, vem também o desprezo;
e, com a ignomínia, a vergonha.
4 Águas profundas são as palavras da boca do homem,
e a fonte da sabedoria, ribeiros transbordantes.
5 Não é bom ser parcial com o perverso,
para torcer o direito contra os justos.
6 Os lábios do insensato entram na contenda,
e por açoites brada a sua boca.
7 A boca do insensato é a sua própria destruição,
e os seus lábios, um laço para a sua alma.
8 As palavras do maldizente são doces bocados
que descem para o mais interior do ventre.
9 Quem é negligente na sua obra
já é irmão do desperdiçador.
10 Torre forte é o nome do Senhor,
à qual o justo se acolhe e está seguro.
11 Os bens do rico lhe são cidade forte
e, segundo imagina, uma alta muralha.
12 Antes da ruína, gaba-se o coração do homem,
e diante da honra vai a humildade.
13 Responder antes de ouvir
é estultícia e vergonha.
14 O espírito firme sustém o homem na sua doença,
mas o espírito abatido, quem o pode suportar?
15 O coração do sábio adquire o conhecimento,
e o ouvido dos sábios procura o saber.
16 O presente que o homem faz alarga-lhe o caminho
e leva-o perante os grandes.
17 O que começa o pleito parece justo,
até que vem o outro e o examina.
18 Pelo lançar da sorte, cessam os pleitos,
e se decide a causa entre os poderosos.
19 O irmão ofendido resiste mais que uma fortaleza;
suas contendas são ferrolhos de um castelo.
20 Do fruto da boca o coração se farta,
do que produzem os lábios se satisfaz.
21 A morte e a vida estão no poder da língua;
o que bem a utiliza come do seu fruto.
22 O que acha uma esposa acha o bem
e alcançou a benevolência do Senhor.
23 O pobre fala com súplicas,
porém o rico responde com durezas.
24 O homem que tem muitos amigos sai perdendo;
mas há amigo mais chegado do que um irmão.
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.
1 An unfriendly person pursues selfish ends and against all sound judgment starts quarrels.
2 Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions.
3 When wickedness comes, so does contempt, and with shame comes reproach.
4 The words of the mouth are deep waters, but the fountain of wisdom is a rushing stream.
5 It is not good to be partial to the wicked and so deprive the innocent of justice.
6 The lips of fools bring them strife, and their mouths invite a beating.
7 The mouths of fools are their undoing, and their lips are a snare to their very lives.
8 The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts.
9 One who is slack in his work is brother to one who destroys.
10 The name of the LORD is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.
11 The wealth of the rich is their fortified city; they imagine it a wall too high to scale.
12 Before a downfall the heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor.
13 To answer before listening — that is folly and shame.
14 The human spirit can endure in sickness, but a crushed spirit who can bear?
15 The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, for the ears of the wise seek it out.
16 A gift opens the way and ushers the giver into the presence of the great.
17 In a lawsuit the first to speak seems right, until someone comes forward and cross-examines.
18 Casting the lot settles disputes and keeps strong opponents apart.
19 A brother wronged is more unyielding than a fortified city; disputes are like the barred gates of a citadel.
20 From the fruit of their mouth a person's stomach is filled; with the harvest of their lips they are satisfied.
21 The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
22 He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the LORD.
23 The poor plead for mercy, but the rich answer harshly.
24 One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.