Daily Bible Reading

1Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire;

he breaks out against all sound judgment.

2A fool takes no pleasure in understanding,

but only in expressing his opinion.

3When wickedness comes, contempt comes also,

and with dishonor comes disgrace.

4The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters;

the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.

5It is not good to be partial to the wicked

or to deprive the righteous of justice.

6A fool’s lips walk into a fight,

and his mouth invites a beating.

7A fool’s mouth is his ruin,

and his lips are a snare to his soul.

8The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels;

they go down into the inner parts of the body.

9Whoever is slack in his work

is a brother to him who destroys.

10The name of the Lord is a strong tower;

the righteous man runs into it and is safe.

11A rich man’s wealth is his strong city,

and like a high wall in his imagination.

12Before destruction a man’s heart is haughty,

but humility comes before honor.

13If one gives an answer before he hears,

it is his folly and shame.

14A man’s spirit will endure sickness,

but a crushed spirit who can bear?

15An intelligent heart acquires knowledge,

and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.

16A man’s gift makes room for him

and brings him before the great.

17The one who states his case first seems right,

until the other comes and examines him.

18The lot puts an end to quarrels

and decides between powerful contenders.

19A brother offended is more unyielding than a strong city,

and quarreling is like the bars of a castle.

20From the fruit of a man’s mouth his stomach is satisfied;

he is satisfied by the yield of his lips.

21Death and life are in the power of the tongue,

and those who love it will eat its fruits.

22He who finds a wife finds a good thing

and obtains favor from the Lord.

23The poor use entreaties,

but the rich answer roughly.

24A man of many companions may come to ruin,

but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

1An unfriendly person pursues selfish ends

and against all sound judgment starts quarrels.

2Fools find no pleasure in understanding

but delight in airing their own opinions.

3When wickedness comes, so does contempt,

and with shame comes reproach.

4The words of the mouth are deep waters,

but the fountain of wisdom is a rushing stream.

5It is not good to be partial to the wicked

and so deprive the innocent of justice.

6The lips of fools bring them strife,

and their mouths invite a beating.

7The mouths of fools are their undoing,

and their lips are a snare to their very lives.

8The words of a gossip are like choice morsels;

they go down to the inmost parts.

9One who is slack in his work

is brother to one who destroys.

10The name of the Lord is a fortified tower;

the righteous run to it and are safe.

11The wealth of the rich is their fortified city;

they imagine it a wall too high to scale.

12Before a downfall the heart is haughty,

but humility comes before honor.

13To answer before listening—

that is folly and shame.

14The human spirit can endure in sickness,

but a crushed spirit who can bear?

15The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge,

for the ears of the wise seek it out.

16A gift opens the way

and ushers the giver into the presence of the great.

17In a lawsuit the first to speak seems right,

until someone comes forward and cross-examines.

18Casting the lot settles disputes

and keeps strong opponents apart.

19A brother wronged is more unyielding than a fortified city;

disputes are like the barred gates of a citadel.

20From the fruit of their mouth a person’s stomach is filled;

with the harvest of their lips they are satisfied.

21The tongue has the power of life and death,

and those who love it will eat its fruit.

22He who finds a wife finds what is good

and receives favor from the Lord.

23The poor plead for mercy,

but the rich answer harshly.

24One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin,

but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.