1 Through desire a man, havingHe who loves wisdom will separate himself from all impediments, and give himself wholly to seek it.separated himself, seeketh [and] intermeddleth with all wisdom.
2 A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart mayThat is, that he may talk licentiously of whatever comes to mind.reveal itself.
3 When the wicked cometh, [then] cometh alsoMeaning, such a one as condemns all others.contempt, and with ignominy reproach.
4 The words of a man's mouth [are as] deepWhich can never be drawn empty, but always bring profit.waters, [and] the wellspring of wisdom [as] a flowing brook.
5 [It is] not good toThat is, to favour him and support him.accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment.
6 A fooles lips come with strife, & his mouth calleth for stripes.
7 A fooles mouth is his owne destruction, and his lips are a snare for his soule.
8 The words of a talebearer [are] as wounds, and they go down into theThey are soon believed and enter most deeply.innermost parts of the belly.
9 He also that is slouthfull in his worke, is euen the brother of him that is a great waster.
10 The name of the LORD [is] a strong tower: the righteous runnethHe shows the refuge of the godly against all trouble.into it, and is safe.
11 The rich mans riches are his strong citie: and as an hie wall in his imagination.
12 Before destruction the heart of a man is hautie, and before glory goeth lowlines.
13 He that answereth a matter before hee heare it, it is folly and shame vnto him.
14 The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; butThe mind can well bear the infirmity of the body, but when the spirit is wounded, it is hard to sustain.a wounded spirit who can bear?
15 A wise heart getteth knowledge, and the eare of the wise seeketh learning.
16 A man's giftGets him liberty to speak, and the favour of them that are esteemed.maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.
17 He who speaks first, is best heard from the wicked judge, but when his adversary enquires out the matter it turns to his shame.[He that is] first in his own cause [seemeth] just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him.
18 The lotIf a controversy cannot otherwise be decided, it is best to cast lots to know whose the thing will be.causeth contentions to cease, andAppeases their controversy, who are so stout that they cannot otherwise be pacified.parteth between the mighty.
19 A brother offended [is harder to be won] than a strong city: and [their] contentions [are] like theWhich for the strength of it will not bow or yield.bars of a castle.
20 With the fruite of a mans mouth shall his belly be satisfied, and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.
21 Death and life [are] in the power of the tongue: and they thatBy the using the tongue well or evil, comes the fruit of it either good or bad.love it shall eat the fruit of it.
22 [Whoever] findeth aHe who is joined with a virtuous woman in marriage is blessed by the Lord, as in (Pro_19:14).wife findeth a good [thing], and obtaineth favour from the LORD.
23 The poore speaketh with prayers: but the rich answereth roughly.
24 A man [that hath] friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend [that] sticketh closerThat is, often such are found who are more ready to do pleasure, than he that is more bound by duty.than a brother.
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