Proverbs

¹Whoever has a will to withdraw from a friend, seeks occasions; he shall be reproached at all times. ↗

²The foolish do not accept words of prudence, unless you say what is already turning in his heart. ↗

³The impious, when he has arrived within the depths of sin, thinks little of it. But ill repute and disgrace follow him. ↗

⁴Words from the mouth of a man are deep waters. And the fountain of wisdom is a torrent overflowing. ↗

⁵It is not good to accept the character of the impious, so as to turn away from true judgment. ↗

⁶The lips of the foolish meddle in disputes. And his mouth provokes conflicts. ↗

⁷The mouth of the foolish is his destruction, and his own lips are the ruin of his soul. ↗

⁸The words of the double-tongued seem simple. And they reach even to the interior of the gut. Fear casts down the lazy, but the souls of the effeminate shall go hungry. ↗

⁹Whoever is dissolute and slack in his work is the brother of him who wastes his own works. ↗

¹⁰The name of the Lord is a very strong tower. The just one rushes to it, and he shall be exalted. ↗

¹¹The substance of the wealthy is the city of his strength, and it is like a strong wall encircling him. ↗

¹²The heart of a man is exalted before it is crushed and humbled before it is glorified. ↗

¹³Whoever responds before he listens, demonstrates himself to be foolish and deserving of confusion. ↗

¹⁴The spirit of a man sustains his weakness. Yet who can sustain a spirit that is easily angered? ↗

¹⁵A prudent heart shall possess knowledge. And the ear of the wise seeks doctrine. ↗

¹⁶A man’s gift expands his way and makes space for him before leaders. ↗

¹⁷The just is the first accuser of himself; his friend arrives and shall investigate him. ↗

¹⁸Casting a lot suppresses contentions and passes judgment, even among the powerful. ↗

¹⁹A brother who is helped by a brother is like a reinforced city, and judgments are like the bars of cities. ↗

²⁰From the fruit of a man’s mouth shall his belly be filled. And the harvest of his own lips shall satisfy him. ↗

²¹Death and life are in the power of the tongue. Whoever values it shall eat from its fruits. ↗

²²He who has found a good wife has found goodness, and he shall draw contentment from the Lord. He who expels a good wife expels goodness. But he who holds on to an adulteress is foolish and impious. ↗

²³The poor will speak with supplications. And the rich will express themselves roughly. ↗

²⁴A man amiable to society shall be more friendly than a brother. ↗