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📚✭A man who separates himself seeksto fulfil his own desire;
he bursts out against all wisdom.
2 📚A fool has no delight in understanding,
but only in displaying his own heart.
3 📚When the wicked comes,
contempt also comes,
and with disgrace comes reproach.
4 📚✭The words of a man’s mouth are
deep waters,
and the fountain of wisdom is
a flowing brook.
5 📚It is not good to show favoritism
to the wicked,
to deprive the righteous of justice.
6 📚A fool’s lips bring contention,
and his mouth invites blows.
7 📚A fool’s mouth is his ruin,
and his lips are the snare of his soul.
8 📚✭The words of a talebearer are
like wounds,
and they go down into the inmost parts
of the body.
9 📚✭He who is lazy in his work is a brother to him
who is a great waster.
10 📚✭The name of the LORD is
a strong tower✭;
the righteous runs into it, and is safe✭.
11 📚✭The rich man’s wealth is his stronghold
and like a high wall, in his own imagination.
12 📚Before destruction the heart
of man is haughty,
and before honour is humility.
13 📚He who answers a matter before
he hears it,
it is folly and shame to him.
14 📚The spirit of a man will sustain
his infirmity,
but a wounded spirit who can bear?
15 📚The heart of the prudent gets knowledge,
and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
16 📚A man’s gift makes room for him,
and brings him before great men.
17 📚The first one to present his case
seems right,
until another comes forward
and examines him.
18 📚Casting the lot ends disputes,
and decides between the mighty.
19 📚A brother offended is harder to win
than a strong city,
and disputes are like the bars
of a castle.
20 📚A man’s stomach will be satisfied
with the fruit of his mouth,
and with the harvest of his lips
he will be filled.
21 📚Death and life✭ are in the power
of the tongue,
and they who love it will eat its fruit.
22 📚He who finds a wife finds good✭,
and obtains favour from the LORD.
23 📚The poor man uses entreaties,
but the rich man answers roughly.
24 📚A man who has friends
may be broken,
but there is a friend who sticks closer✭
than a brother.