Proverbs 18
1 He who desires to separate himself seeks excuses, and rages against all sound wisdom.
For [an object of] desire he who is separated doth seek, With all wisdom he intermeddleth.
2 A fool has no delight in understanding, but only that his heart may reveal itself.
A fool delighteth not in understanding, But — in uncovering his heart.
3 When a wicked man comes, contempt also comes, and with disgrace, reproach.
With the coming of the wicked come also hath contempt, And with shame — reproach.
4 The words of a man's mouth are deep waters. The wellspring of wisdom is a flowing brook.
Deep waters [are] the words of a man's mouth, The fountain of wisdom [is] a flowing brook.
5 To respect the person of a wicked man is not good, nor to turn aside a righteous man in judgment.
Acceptance of the face of the wicked [is] not good, To turn aside the righteous in judgment.
6 A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calls for stripes.
The lips of a fool enter into strife, And his mouth for stripes calleth.
7 A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.
The mouth of a fool [is] ruin to him, And his lips [are] the snare of his soul.
8 The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, and they go down into the innermost parts.
The words of a tale-bearer [are] as self-inflicted wounds, And they have gone down [to] the inner parts of the heart.
9 He also that is slack in his work is brother to him that is a destroyer.
He also that is remiss in his work, A brother he [is] to a destroyer.
10 The name of Jehovah is a strong tower. A righteous man runs into it, and is safe.
A tower of strength [is] the name of Jehovah, Into it the righteous runneth, and is set on high.
11 The rich man's wealth is his strong city, and as a high wall in his own imagination.
The wealth of the rich [is] the city of his strength, And as a wall set on high in his own imagination.
12 Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honor is humility.
Before destruction the heart of man is high, And before honour [is] humility.
13 He who gives answer before he hears, it is folly and shame to him.
Whoso is answering a matter before he heareth, Folly it is to him and shame.
14 The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity, but a broken spirit who can bear?
The spirit of a man sustaineth his sickness, And a smitten spirit who doth bear?
15 The heart of a prudent man gets knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
The heart of the intelligent getteth knowledge, And the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.
16 A man's gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men.
The gift of a man maketh room for him, And before the great it leadeth him.
17 He who pleads his case first seems just, but his neighbor comes and searches him out.
Righteous [is] the first in his own cause, His neighbour cometh and hath searched him.
18 The lot causes contentions to cease, and decides between the mighty.
The lot causeth contentions to cease, And between the mighty it separateth.
19 A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city, and such contentions are like the bars of a castle.
A brother transgressed against is as a strong city, And contentions as the bar of a palace.
20 A man's belly shall be filled with the fruit of his mouth. With the increase of his lips he shall be satisfied.
From the fruit of a man's mouth is his belly satisfied, [From the] increase of his lips he is satisfied.
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it shall eat the fruit of it.
Death and life [are] in the power of the tongue, And those loving it eat its fruit.
22 He who finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor from Jehovah.
[Whoso] hath found a wife hath found good, And bringeth out good-will from Jehovah.
23 A poor man uses entreaties, but a rich man answers roughly.
[With] supplications doth the poor speak, And the rich answereth fierce things.
24 He who makes many friends does it to his own destruction, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
A man with friends [is] to show himself friendly, And there is a lover adhering more than a brother!
