13 To answer before listening—

that is folly and shame.

14 The human spirit can endure in sickness,

but a crushed spirit who can bear?

15 The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge,

for the ears of the wise seek it out.

16 A gift opens the way

and ushers the giver into the presence of the great.

17 In a lawsuit the first to speak seems right,

until someone comes forward and cross-examines.

18 Casting the lot settles disputes

and keeps strong opponents apart.

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

disputes are like the barred gates of a citadel.

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

with the harvest of their lips they are satisfied.

13 He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, It is folly and shame unto him. 14 The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; But a wounded spirit who can bear? 15 The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; And the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge. 16 A man’s gift maketh room for him, And bringeth him before great men. 17 He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; But his neighbour cometh and searcheth him. 18 The lot causeth contentions to cease, And parteth between the mighty. 19 A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: And their contentions are like the bars of a castle. 20 A man’s belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; And with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.

13 Spouting off before listening to the facts

is both shameful and foolish.

14 The human spirit can endure a sick body,

but who can bear a crushed spirit?

15 Intelligent people are always ready to learn.

Their ears are open for knowledge.

16 Giving a gift can open doors;

it gives access to important people!

17 The first to speak in court sounds right—

until the cross-examination begins.

18 Flipping a coin can end arguments;

it settles disputes between powerful opponents.

19 An offended friend is harder to win back than a fortified city.

Arguments separate friends like a gate locked with bars.

20 Wise words satisfy like a good meal;

the right words bring satisfaction.

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 him in sickness,

But who can bear a broken spirit?

15 The heart of the prudent acquires 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 plead his cause seems right,

Until his neighbor comes and examines him.

18 Casting lots causes contentions to cease,

And keeps the mighty apart.

19 A brother offended is harder to win than a strong city,

And contentions are like the bars of a castle.

20 A man’s stomach shall be satisfied from the fruit of his mouth;

From the produce of his lips he shall be filled.

13 Anyone who answers without listening

is foolish and confused.

14 The will to live can get you through sickness,

but no one can live with a broken spirit.

15 The mind of a person with understanding gets knowledge;

the wise person listens to learn more.

16 Taking gifts to important people

will help get you in to see them.

17 The person who tells one side of a story seems right,

until someone else comes and asks questions.

18 Throwing lots can settle arguments

and keep the two sides from fighting.

19 A brother who has been insulted is harder to win back than a walled city,

and arguments separate people like the barred gates of a palace.

20 People will be rewarded for what they say;

they will be rewarded by how they speak.

13 He that giveth answer before he heareth,

It is folly and shame unto him.

14 The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity;

But a broken spirit who can bear?

15 The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge;

And the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.

16 A man’s gift maketh room for him,

And bringeth him before great men.

17 He that pleadeth his cause first seemeth just;

But his neighbor cometh and searcheth him out.

18 The lot causeth contentions to cease,

And parteth between the mighty.

19 A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city;

And such contentions are like the bars of a castle.

20 A man’s belly shall be filled with the fruit of his mouth;

With the increase of his lips shall he be satisfied.

13 He that giveth answer before he heareth, it is folly and shame unto him.

14 The spirit of a man sustaineth his infirmity; but a broken spirit who can bear?

15 The heart of an intelligent man getteth knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.

16 A man’s gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.

17 He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him.

18 The lot causeth contentions to cease, and parteth between the mighty.

19 A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city; and contentions are as the bars of a palace.

20 A man’s belly is satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; with the increase of his lips is he satisfied.

13 Whoever gives an answer before he listens is stupid and shameful. 

14 A person’s spirit can endure sickness, 

but who can bear a broken spirit? 

15 The mind of a person who has understanding acquires knowledge. 

The ears of wise people seek knowledge. 

16 A gift opens doors for the one who gives it 

and brings him into the presence of great people. 

17 The first to state his case seems right 

⸤until⸥ his neighbor comes to cross-examine him. 

18 Flipping a coin ends quarrels 

and settles ⸤issues⸥ between powerful people. 

19 An offended brother is more ⸤resistant⸥ than a strong city, 

and disputes are like the locked gate of a castle tower. 

20 A person’s speaking ability provides for his stomach. 

His talking provides him a living. 

13 The one who gives an answer before he listens—

this is foolishness and disgrace for him.

14 A man’s spirit can endure sickness,

but who can survive a broken spirit?

15 The mind of the discerning acquires knowledge,

and the ear of the wise seeks it.

16 A gift opens doors for a man

and brings him before the great.

17 The first to state his case seems right

until another comes and cross-examines him.

18 Casting the lot ends quarrels

and separates powerful opponents.

19 An offended brother is harder to reach

than a fortified city,

and quarrels are like the bars of a fortress.

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

he is filled with the product of his lips.

13 If one gives answer before hearing,

it is folly and shame.

14 The human spirit will endure sickness;

but a broken spirit—who can bear?

15 An intelligent mind acquires knowledge,

and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.

16 A gift opens doors;

it gives access to the great.

17 The one who first states a case seems right,

until the other comes and cross-examines.

18 Casting the lot puts an end to disputes

and decides between powerful contenders.

19 An ally offended is stronger than a city;

such quarreling is like the bars of a castle.

20 From the fruit of the mouth one’s stomach is satisfied;

the yield of the lips brings satisfaction.

13 He who returns a word before he will hear,

folly itself belongs to him as well as shame.

14 The spirit of a man will endure his sickness,

but a broken spirit, who may bear it?

15 An intelligent mind will acquire knowledge,

and the ear of the wise will seek knowledge.

16 The gift of a person will open doors for him,

and before the great, it gives him access.

17 The first in his dispute is deemed righteous,

but his neighbor will come and examine him.

18 The lot will put an end to disputes,

and between powerful contenders it will decide.

19 A brother who is offended is worse than a city of strength,

and quarrels are like the bars of a fortification.

20 From the fruit of a man’s mouth, his stomach will be satisfied,

as for the yield of his lips, it will satisfy.

13 To answer before listening

is foolish and shameful.

14 A man’s cheerful heart gives him strength when he is sick.

You can’t keep going if you have a broken spirit.

15 Those whose hearts understand what is right get knowledge.

The ears of those who are wise listen for it.

16 A gift opens the way for the one who gives it.

It helps him meet important people.

17 The first one to tell his case seems right.

Then someone else comes forward and questions him.

18 Casting lots will put a stop to arguing.

It will keep the strongest enemies apart.

19 A broken friendship is harder to deal with than a city that has high walls around it.

And arguing is like the locked gates of a mighty city.

20 A man can fill his stomach with what he says.

The words from his lips can satisfy him.

13 He who gives an answer before he hears,

It is folly and shame to him.

14 The spirit of a man can endure his sickness,

But as for a broken spirit who can bear it?

15 The mind of the prudent acquires 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 to plead his case seems right,

Until another comes and examines him.

18 The cast lot puts an end to strife

And decides between the mighty ones.

19 A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city,

And contentions are like the bars of a citadel.

20 With the fruit of a man’s mouth his stomach will be satisfied;

He will be satisfied with the product of his lips.