Read the Bible

¹ One who has isolated himself seeks his own desires;
he rejects all sound judgment.
² A fool takes no pleasure in understanding
but only in disclosing what is on his mind.
³ When a wicked person arrives, contempt shows up with him,
and with shame comes a reproach.
⁴ The words of a person's mouth are like deep waters,
and the fountain of wisdom is like a flowing brook.
⁵ It is terrible to show partiality to the wicked,
by depriving a righteous man of justice.
⁶ The lips of a fool enter into strife,
and his mouth invites a flogging.
⁷ The mouth of a fool is his ruin,
and his lips are a snare for his life.
⁸ The words of a gossip are like choice morsels;
they go down into the person's innermost being.
⁹ The one who is slack in his work
is a brother to one who destroys.
¹⁰ The name of the Lord is like a strong tower;
the righteous person runs to it and is set safely on high.
¹¹ The wealth of a rich person is like a strong city,
and it is like a high wall in his imagination.
¹² Before destruction the heart of a person is proud,
but humility comes before honor.
¹³ The one who gives an answer before he listens—
that is his folly and his shame.
¹⁴ A person's spirit sustains him through sickness—
but who can bear a crushed spirit?
¹⁵ The discerning person acquires knowledge,
and the wise person seeks knowledge.
¹⁶ A person's gift makes room for him,
and leads him before important people.
¹⁷ The first to state his case seems right,
until his opponent begins to cross-examine him.
¹⁸ A toss of a coin ends disputes,
and settles the issue between strong opponents.
¹⁹ A relative offended is harder to reach than a strong city,
and disputes are like the barred gates of a fortified citadel.
²⁰ From the fruit of a person's mouth his stomach is satisfied,
with the product of his lips is he satisfied.
²¹ Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
and those who love its use will eat its fruit.
²² The one who finds a wife finds what is enjoyable,
and receives a pleasurable gift from the Lord.
²³ A poor person makes supplications,
but a rich man answers harshly.
²⁴ A person who has friends may be harmed by them,
but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.