1 A man who isolates himself pursues selfishness,
and defies all sound judgment.
2 A fool has no delight in understanding,
but only in revealing his own opinion.
3 When wickedness comes, contempt also comes,
and with shame comes disgrace.
4 The words of a man’s mouth are like deep waters.
The fountain of wisdom is like a flowing brook.
5 To be partial to the faces of the wicked is not good,
nor to deprive the innocent of justice.
6 A fool’s lips come into strife,
and his mouth invites beatings.
7 A fool’s mouth is his destruction,
and his lips are a snare to his soul.
8 The words of a gossip are like dainty morsels:
they go down into a person’s innermost parts.
9 One who is slack in his work
is brother to him who is a master of destruction.
10 Yahweh’s name is a strong tower:
the righteous run to him, and are safe.
11 The rich man’s wealth is his strong city,
like an unscalable wall in his own imagination.
12 Before destruction the heart of man is proud,
but before honor is humility.
13 He who answers before he hears,
that is folly and shame to him.
14 A man’s spirit will sustain him in sickness,
but a crushed spirit, who can bear?
15 The heart of the discerning gets knowledge.
The ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
16 A man’s gift makes room for him,
and brings him before great men.
17 He who pleads his cause first seems right—
until another comes and questions him.
18 The lot settles disputes,
and keeps strong ones apart.
19 A brother offended is more difficult than a fortified city.
Disputes are like the bars of a fortress.
20 A man’s stomach is filled with the fruit of his mouth.
With the harvest of his lips he is satisfied.
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue;
those who love it will eat its fruit.
22 Whoever finds a wife finds a good thing,
and obtains favor of Yahweh.
23 The poor plead for mercy,
but the rich answer harshly.
24 A man of many companions may be ruined,
but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
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.