The Selfishness of the Unfriendly

1The one separating himself seeks his own desire,

against all sound wisdom he breaks out.

2A fool does not delight in understanding,

but rather in uncovering his heart.

3With the coming of the wicked also comes contempt,

and with shame, reproach.

4The words of the mouth of a man are deep waters;

the fountain of wisdom is a flowing brook.

5To lift up the face† to a wicked one is not good—

to overthrow a righteous one in the judgment.

6The lips of a fool enter into strife,

and his mouth calls for blows.

7The mouth of a fool is ruin to him,

and his lips are a snare to his soul.

8The words of a whisperer are like things to be gulped,

and they go down into the chambers of the belly.

9The one being slack in his work,

he is also a brother to a lord of destruction.

10A tower of strength is the name of YHWH—

to it† a righteous one runs and is set on high.

11The wealth of the rich one is the city of his strength,

and like a wall set high in his imagination.

12Before the face of destruction, the heart of a man is exalted,

and before honor is humility.

13The one returning a word before he hears,

it is folly to him and disgrace.

14The spirit of a man will sustain him in his sickness,

and a stricken spirit—who can bear it?

15The heart of an understanding one acquires knowledge,

and the ear of the wise ones seeks knowledge.

16The gift of a man makes room for him,

and it leads him before the face of great ones.

17The first in his dispute seems right,

until his neighbor comes and examines him.

18The lot makes quarrels cease,

and it separates between mighty ones.

19A brother transgressed is as a city of strength,

and quarrels are like the gate bar of a citadel.

20From the fruit of the mouth of a man, his belly is satisfied;

with the produce of his lips he is satisfied.

21Death and life are in the hand of the tongue,

and those loving it will eat its fruit.

22He who has found a wife has found good,

and he obtains favor from YHWH.

With supplications the poor one speaks,

and a rich one answers fiercely.

A man of companions may come to ruin,

and there is a lover adhering more than a brother.