Proverbs 18
1 A man who isolates himself pursues selfishness, and defies all sound judgment.
He that separateth himself [from God] seeketh his own desires: at every sound wisdom is he enraged.
2 A fool has no delight in understanding, but only in revealing his own opinion.
A fool hath no delight in understanding, but in laying open what is in his heart.
3 When wickedness comes, contempt also comes, and with shame comes disgrace.
When the wicked cometh, then cometh also contempt, and with dishonorable acts, disgrace.
4 The words of a man’s mouth are like deep waters. The fountain of wisdom is like a flowing brook.
Like deep waters are the words of a [wise] man's mouth, and a bubbling brook is the well-spring of wisdom.
5 To be partial to the faces of the wicked is not good, nor to deprive the innocent of justice.
It is not good to favor the person of the wicked, to wrest [the cause of the] righteous in judgment.
6 A fool’s lips come into strife, and his mouth invites beatings.
The lips of the fool come with contention, and his mouth calleth for blows.
7 A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are a snare to his soul.
The mouth of the fool is a destruction to himself, and his lips are the snare of his soul.
8 The words of a gossip are like dainty morsels: they go down into a person’s innermost parts.
The words of a whisperer are as wounds, and they go down indeed into the innermost parts of the body.
9 One who is slack in his work is brother to him who is a master of destruction.
He also that showeth himself slothful in his work is a brother to the destroyer.
10 The LORD’s name is a strong tower: the righteous run to him, and are safe.
The name of the Lord is a strong tower, whereunto the righteous runneth, and is placed in safety.
11 The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, like an unscalable wall in his own imagination.
The rich man's wealth is his strong town, and as a towering wall in his own conceit.
12 Before destruction the heart of man is proud, but before honor is humility.
Before downfall the heart of man becometh haughty, and before honor goeth humility.
13 He who answers before he hears, that is folly and shame to him.
When one returneth an answer before he understandeth [the question], it is folly unto him and shame.
14 A man’s spirit will sustain him in sickness, but a crushed spirit, who can bear?
The spirit of a man will readily bear his disease; but a depressed spirit who can bear:
15 The heart of the discerning gets knowledge. The ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
The heart of the man of understanding will obtain knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.
16 A man’s gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men.
A man's gift maketh room for him, and before great men will it lead him.
17 He who pleads his cause first seems right— until another comes and questions him.
He that is first in his cause seemeth just; but when his neighbor cometh, then will it be investigated.
18 The lot settles disputes, and keeps strong ones apart.
The lot causeth disputes to cease, and it decideth between the mighty.
19 A brother offended is more difficult than a fortified city. Disputes are like the bars of a fortress.
A brother offended is harder [to be won] than a strong town; and quarrels [among brothers] are like the bars of a castle.
20 A man’s stomach is filled with the fruit of his mouth. With the harvest of his lips he is satisfied.
From the fruit of a man's mouth is his body satisfied; with the product of his lips doth he satisfy himself.
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue; those who love it will eat its fruit.
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they that love it will eat its fruit.
22 Whoever finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor of the LORD.
Whoso hath found a wife hath found happiness, and hath obtained favor from the Lord.
23 The poor plead for mercy, but the rich answer harshly.
The poor speaketh entreatingly; but the rich answereth roughly.
24 A man of many companions may be ruined, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
A man's many companions are hurtful to him; but there is many a friend that cleaveth closer than a brother.
