Proverbs 18
1 He who isolates himself pursues selfish desires; he rebels against all sound judgment.
Those who separate themselves [from other people] think [only] about those things that they are interested in; [if they would continually associate with] those who have good judgment/sense, they would constantly disagree/quarrel with them.
2 A fool does not delight in understanding, but only in airing his opinions.
Foolish people do not want to understand [anything]; they only want to (express their [own] opinions/say what they think) [IDM].
3 With a wicked man comes contempt as well, and shame is accompanied by disgrace.
Whenever people do wicked things, others will despise them; when people do things that cause themselves to no [longer] be honored, they will be disgraced [also].
4 The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters; the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.
What wise people say is [like] a deep ocean [that you can never get to the bottom of] [MET], and it [refreshes us like water from] a rapidly flowing stream.
5 Showing partiality to the wicked is not good, nor is depriving the innocent of justice.
It is not good [for a judge] to decide matters in favor of those who (are guilty/have done wicked things) and to not do what is just for those who (are innocent/have not done what is wrong).
6 A fool’s lips bring him strife, and his mouth invites a beating.
When foolish people [SYN] start arguments, [it is as though] they [SYN] are requesting/inviting someone to flog/whip them.
7 A fool’s mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to his soul.
What foolish people [MTY] say causes them to be ruined; their [own] words are [like] a trap [MET] [that catches/seizes] them.
8 The words of a gossip are like choice morsels that go down into the inmost being.
[People enjoy listening to] what gossips say like [SIM] [they enjoy] tasty food; they [accept what gossips tell them like] [MET] they swallow tasty food.
9 Whoever is slothful in his work is brother to him who destroys.
People who are lazy while they work are [just as bad] as [IDM] those who destroy things.
10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.
Yahweh [MTY] is [like] a strong tower [MET]; righteous people [can] go to him and be safe [like they can run to a tower to be safe].
11 A rich man’s wealth is his fortified city; it is like a high wall in his imagination.
Rich people [are protected because they have] a lot of money [PRS] like a city is protected because it has a high wall surrounding it [SIM].
12 Before his downfall a man’s heart is proud, but humility comes before honor.
Proud people are on the road to being ruined, but being humble leads to being honored.
13 He who answers a matter before he hears it— this is folly and disgrace to him.
Those who reply to someone before that person has finished speaking are foolish; doing that is disgraceful.
14 The spirit of a man can endure his sickness, but who can survive a broken spirit?
A desire to [continue to] live can sustain someone when he is sick; if he loses that desire, he (cannot endure it/will become very discouraged) when he is sick [RHQ].
15 The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks it out.
Intelligent people [are always wanting to] learn more; wise people [SYN] are not content with what they already know.
16 A man’s gift opens doors for him, and brings him before great men.
If you take a gift to an important person, that will open the way to allow you to talk to him.
17 The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him.
The first person to present his case in court seems right, but when (someone else/his opponent) begins to ask him questions, [it may become clear that what he said was not true].
18 Casting the lot ends quarrels and separates strong opponents.
If two influential/important people are arguing, [someone can] settle the matter by (casting lots/throwing marked stones to decide who is right).
19 An offended brother is harder to win than a fortified city, and disputes are like the bars of a castle.
If you help relatives, they will [protect you] like [SIM] a strong wall [protects a city], but if you quarrel with them, [that will separate you from them] like bars on a city gate [separate the city from those who want to enter it] [MET].
20 From the fruit of his mouth a man’s belly is filled; with the harvest from his lips he is satisfied.
People are happy when they hear others say [MTY] something that is good, [like] they are happy when they eat food that is good [MET].
21 Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
What you say can cause others to be killed or it can cause them to [continue to] live; [so] those who like [to talk a lot] must (accept the consequences/realize that what they say can cause much harm).
22 He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the LORD.
If you marry a [good] woman, that is [like] finding a wonderful thing; [it shows that] Yahweh is pleased with you.
23 The poor man pleads for mercy, but the rich man answers harshly.
[It is necessary for] poor [people] to speak politely when they request [rich people to do something for them], but rich [people] reply very impolitely when poor people speak to them.
24 A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother.
There are [some] people who [only] pretend to be friends [with us], but there are [some] friends who are more loyal than members of our families.
