He who keeps himself apart seeks to satisfy his own vanity: he breaks out against all sound policy.

One who departs [from the L-rd] to court lust will be exposed in every Torah conclave.

A fool has no delight in understanding, but that his heart may lay itself bare.

The fool does not desire understanding, but to "ventilate" his heart.

When the wicked comes, then comes also contempt, and with ignominy reproach.

With the coming of the wicked one, there also comes contempt, and with profligacy, shaming.

The words of a man’s mouth are like deep waters, a flowing wadi, a fountain of wisdom.

Deep waters are the words of a hero, a flowing stream, the wellspring of wisdom.

It is not good to favour the person of the wicked, so as to turn aside justice from the righteous.

It is not good for the wicked that favor is shown [them in this world and punishment exacted in the next.] [It is good] for the righteous that [the scales of] judgment are turned [against them in this world, so that they merit life in the world to come].

A fool’s lips enter into contention, and his mouth calls for strokes.

The lips of the fool [i.e., all of his words] come in [terms of] quarrel, and his mouth invites blows.

A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.

The mouth of a fool brings destruction to him, and his lips are a stumbling-block to his soul.

The words of a talebearer are like dainties, and they go down into the innermost parts of the body.

The words of the complainer are like blows and they enter one's innards.

He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him who destroys.

Even he [(a Torah scholar)] who weakens in his work [(i.e., who departs from the Torah)] is a brother to the destroyer [(Satan)].

The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runs into it, and is safe.

A tower of strength is the name of the L-rd. Through it the righteous one will race [whithersoever he wishes], and he will be strengthened [therein].

The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, and as a high wall in his own conceit.

The treasure of the wealthy one is the city of his strength; as a fortified wall [is it] in his chamber.

Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, but before honour goes humility.

Before destruction a man's heart grows haughty, and before honor there is humility.

He that answers a matter before he hears it, it is folly and shame to him.

If one answers before he has heard, it will be accounted foolishness to him, and shame.

The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?

A hero's spirit will sustain his sickness [(and it will not prevail over him)]; but a broken spirit, who will bear it?

The heart of the prudent acquires knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.

An understanding heart will acquire wisdom [of itself], but the ear of the wise will seek wisdom.

A man’s gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men.

A man's gift will broaden [the path] for him and will lead him before the great.

The one who pleads first seems to be in the right: then his neighbour comes forward, and sifts his case.

The first [to state his case] in an argument seems righteous; but when his fellow comes, he is interrogated [in distrust].

The lot causes contentions to cease, and it decides between the mighty.

A lottery can quell a quarrel and part the litigants [in their dispute].

A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.

[There is] a brother who, by his rebellion [(against his brother)], [is deprived] of a bastion of strength [(e.g., Lot against Abraham, Esav against Jacob)], and [whose] quarrel [separates them forever] as the bolt of palace [doors forbids entry].

A man’s belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.

A man's stomach will be sated with the fruits of his mouth; he will be sated with the produce of his lips.

Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat its fruit.

Life and death are in the power of the tongue; those who love [to use] it [in the study of Torah] will eat its fruit [in the world to come].

He who finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favour of the Lord.

He who has found a wife has found good and has brought forth favor from the L-rd.

The poor uses entreaties; but the rich answers with impudence.

The poor man speaks imploringly [though he knows that] the rich man will answer brazenly.

There are friends who merely pretend friendship: and there is a true friend who is closer than a brother.

A man [acquires] friends to befriend [him in time of need], for sometimes a lover [i.e., a friend] will cleave [to him] more than a brother.