¹ An unfriendly person pursues selfish ends and against all sound judgment starts quarrels. ² Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. ³ When wickedness comes, so does contempt, and with shame comes reproach. ⁴ The words of the mouth are deep waters, but the fountain of wisdom is a rushing stream. ⁵ It is not good to be partial to the wicked and so deprive the innocent of justice. ⁶ The lips of fools bring them strife, and their mouths invite a beating. ⁷ The mouths of fools are their undoing, and their lips are a snare to their very lives. ⁸ The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts.