Proverbs 18
1 He that separateth himself seeketh [his own] desire, And rageth against all sound wisdom.
He who is separated seeks [his own] desire, He interferes with all wisdom.
2 A fool hath no delight in understanding, But only that his heart may reveal itself.
A fool does not delight in understanding, But in uncovering his heart.
3 When the wicked cometh, there cometh also contempt, And with ignominy [cometh] reproach.
Contempt has also come with the coming of the wicked, And with shame—reproach.
4 The words of a man’s mouth are [as] deep waters; The wellspring of wisdom is [as] a flowing brook.
The words of a man’s mouth [are] deep waters, The fountain of wisdom [is] a flowing brook.
5 To respect the person of the wicked is not good, [Nor] to turn aside the righteous in judgment.
Favoring 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 calleth for stripes.
The lips of a fool enter into strife, And his mouth calls for stripes.
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, He [is] a brother to a destroyer.
10 The name of Jehovah is a strong tower; The righteous runneth into it, and is safe.
The Name of YHWH [is] a tower of strength, The righteous runs into it, 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 [goeth] humility.
The heart of man is high before destruction, And humility [is] before honor.
13 He that giveth answer before he heareth, It is folly and shame unto him.
Whoever is answering a matter before he hears, It is folly 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 sustains his sickness, And who bears a struck spirit?
15 The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; And the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.
The heart of the intelligent gets knowledge, And the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
16 A man’s gift maketh room for him, And bringeth him before great men.
The gift of a man makes room for him, And it leads him before the great.
17 He that pleadeth his cause first [seemeth] just; But his neighbor cometh and searcheth him out.
The first in his own cause [seems] righteous, [But] his neighbor comes and has searched him.
18 The lot causeth contentions to cease, And parteth between the mighty.
The lot causes contentions to cease, And it separates between the mighty.
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 shall he 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 they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
Death and life [are] in the power of the tongue, And those loving it eat its fruit.
22 Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, And obtaineth favor of Jehovah.
[Whoever] has found a wife has found good, And brings out goodwill from YHWH.
23 The poor useth entreaties; But the rich answereth roughly.
The poor speaks [with] supplications, And the rich answers fierce things.
24 He that maketh many friends [doeth it] to his own destruction; But there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
A man with friends—to show himself friendly, And there is a lover adhering more than a brother!
