The Unfriendly Pursue Selfishness
1Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom.
2A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.
3When the wicked cometh, then cometh also contempt, and with ignominy reproach.
4The words of a man's mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook.
5It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment.
6A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes.
7A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.
8The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
9He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.
10The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.
11The rich man's wealth is his strong city, and as an high wall in his own conceit.
12Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.
13He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.
14The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?
15The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.
16A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.
17He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him.
18The lot causeth contentions to cease, and parteth between the mighty.
19A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.
20A man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.
21Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
22Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.
23The poor useth intreaties; but the rich answereth roughly.
24A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
King James Bible
Text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.
The Selfishness of the Unfriendly
1 An unfriendly man 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 The name of Yahweh 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 gives answer 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; and disputes are like the bars of a castle.
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.
The Selfishness of the Unfriendly
1 He who isolates himself pursues selfish desires;
he rebels against all sound judgment.
2 A fool does not delight in understanding,
but only in airing his opinions.
3 With a wicked man comes contempt as well,
and shame is accompanied by disgrace.
4 The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters;
the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.
5 Showing partiality a to the wicked is not good,
nor is depriving the innocent of justice.
6 A fool’s lips bring him strife,
and his mouth invites a beating.
7 A fool’s mouth is his ruin,
and his lips are a snare to his soul.
8 The words of a gossip are like choice morsels
that go down into the inmost being.
9 Whoever is slothful in his work
is brother to him who destroys.
10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower;
the righteous run to it b and are safe.
11 A rich man’s wealth is his fortified city;
it is like a high wall in his imagination.
12 Before his downfall a man’s heart is proud,
but humility comes before honor.
13 He who answers a matter before he hears it—
this is folly and disgrace to him.
14 The spirit of a man can endure his sickness,
but who can survive a broken spirit?
15 The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge,
and the ear of the wise seeks it out.
16 A man’s gift opens doors for him,
and brings him before great men.
17 The first to state his case seems right
until another comes and cross-examines him.
18 Casting the lot ends quarrels
and separates strong opponents.
19 An offended brother is harder to win than a fortified city,
and disputes are like the bars of a castle.
20 From the fruit of his mouth a man’s belly is filled;
with the harvest from his lips he is satisfied.
21 Life and death are in the power of the tongue,
and those who love it will eat its fruit.
22 He who finds a wife finds a good thing
and obtains favor from the LORD.
23 The poor man pleads for mercy,
but the rich man answers harshly.
24 A man of many companions may come to ruin,
but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother.
Footnotes:
5 a Hebrew Lifting the face
10 b Or to Him
The Unfriendly Pursue Selfishness
1For an object of desire he who is separated doth seek, With all wisdom he intermeddleth.
2A fool delighteth not in understanding, But -- in uncovering his heart.
3With the coming of the wicked come also hath contempt, And with shame -- reproach.
4Deep waters are the words of a man's mouth, The fountain of wisdom is a flowing brook.
5Acceptance of the face of the wicked is not good, To turn aside the righteous in judgment.
6The lips of a fool enter into strife, And his mouth for stripes calleth.
7The mouth of a fool is ruin to him, And his lips are the snare of his soul.
8The words of a tale-bearer are as self-inflicted wounds, And they have gone down to the inner parts of the heart.
9He also that is remiss in his work, A brother he is to a destroyer.
10A tower of strength is the name of Jehovah, Into it the righteous runneth, and is set on high.
11The wealth of the rich is the city of his strength, And as a wall set on high in his own imagination.
12Before destruction the heart of man is high, And before honour is humility.
13Whoso is answering a matter before he heareth, Folly it is to him and shame.
14The spirit of a man sustaineth his sickness, And a smitten spirit who doth bear?
15The heart of the intelligent getteth knowledge, And the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.
16The gift of a man maketh room for him, And before the great it leadeth him.
17Righteous is the first in his own cause, His neighbour cometh and hath searched him.
18The lot causeth contentions to cease, And between the mighty it separateth.
19A brother transgressed against is as a strong city, And contentions as the bar of a palace.
20From the fruit of a man's mouth is his belly satisfied, From the increase of his lips he is satisfied.
21Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those loving it eat its fruit.
22Whoso hath found a wife hath found good, And bringeth out good-will from Jehovah.
23With supplications doth the poor speak, And the rich answereth fierce things.
24A man with friends is to show himself friendly, And there is a lover adhering more than a brother!
