| New International Version | New Living Translation |
| 1An unfriendly person pursues selfish ends and against all sound judgment starts quarrels. | 1Unfriendly people care only about themselves; they lash out at common sense. |
| 2Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. | 2Fools have no interest in understanding; they only want to air their own opinions. |
| 3When wickedness comes, so does contempt, and with shame comes reproach. | 3Doing wrong leads to disgrace, and scandalous behavior brings contempt. |
| 4The words of the mouth are deep waters, but the fountain of wisdom is a rushing stream. | 4Wise words are like deep waters; wisdom flows from the wise like a bubbling brook. |
| 5It is not good to be partial to the wicked and so deprive the innocent of justice. | 5It is not right to acquit the guilty or deny justice to the innocent. |
| 6The lips of fools bring them strife, and their mouths invite a beating. | 6Fools’ words get them into constant quarrels; they are asking for a beating. |
| 7The mouths of fools are their undoing, and their lips are a snare to their very lives. | 7The mouths of fools are their ruin; they trap themselves with their lips. |
| 8The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts. | 8Rumors are dainty morsels that sink deep into one’s heart. |
| 9One who is slack in his work is brother to one who destroys. | 9A lazy person is as bad as someone who destroys things. |
| 10The name of the LORD is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe. | 10The name of the LORD is a strong fortress; the godly run to him and are safe. |
| 11The wealth of the rich is their fortified city; they imagine it a wall too high to scale. | 11The rich think of their wealth as a strong defense; they imagine it to be a high wall of safety. |
| 12Before a downfall the heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor. | 12Haughtiness goes before destruction; humility precedes honor. |
| 13To answer before listening-- that is folly and shame. | 13Spouting off before listening to the facts is both shameful and foolish. |
| 14The human spirit can endure in sickness, but a crushed spirit who can bear? | 14The human spirit can endure a sick body, but who can bear a crushed spirit? |
| 15The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, for the ears of the wise seek it out. | 15Intelligent people are always ready to learn. Their ears are open for knowledge. |
| 16A gift opens the way and ushers the giver into the presence of the great. | 16Giving a gift can open doors; it gives access to important people! |
| 17In a lawsuit the first to speak seems right, until someone comes forward and cross-examines. | 17The first to speak in court sounds right— until the cross-examination begins. |
| 18Casting the lot settles disputes and keeps strong opponents apart. | 18Flipping a coin can end arguments; it settles disputes between powerful opponents. |
| 19A brother wronged is more unyielding than a fortified city; disputes are like the barred gates of a citadel. | 19An offended friend is harder to win back than a fortified city. Arguments separate friends like a gate locked with bars. |
| 20From the fruit of their mouth a person's stomach is filled; with the harvest of their lips they are satisfied. | 20Wise words satisfy like a good meal; the right words bring satisfaction. |
| 21The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. | 21The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences. |
| 22He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the LORD. | 22The man who finds a wife finds a treasure, and he receives favor from the LORD. |
| 23The poor plead for mercy, but the rich answer harshly. | 23The poor plead for mercy; the rich answer with insults. |
| 24One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. | 24There are “friends” who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother. |
| New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. | Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. |
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