A fool has no delight in understanding, But in expressing his own heart. | Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. |
A fool’s lips enter into contention, And his mouth calls for blows. | The lips of fools bring them strife, and their mouths invite a beating. |
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The words of a talebearer are like tasty trifles, And they go down into the inmost body. | The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts. |
The name of the Lord is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe. | The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe. |
The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, And like a high wall in his own esteem. | The wealth of the rich is their fortified city; they imagine it a wall too high to scale. |
Before destruction the heart of a man is haughty, And before honor is humility. | Before a downfall the heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor. |
A man’s gift makes room for him, And brings him before great men. | A gift opens the way and ushers the giver into the presence of the great. |
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit. | The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. |
He who finds a wife finds a good thing, And obtains favor from the Lord. | He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord. |
A man who has friends must himself be friendly, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. | One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. |