Proverbs 18
1 He that separateth himself seeketh [his] pleasure, he is vehement against all sound wisdom.
For [an object of] desire he who is separated doth seek, With all wisdom he intermeddleth.
2 A fool hath 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 the wicked cometh, there cometh also contempt, and with ignominy 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, [and] the fountain of wisdom is a gushing brook.
Deep waters [are] the words of a man's mouth, The fountain of wisdom [is] a flowing brook.
5 It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to wrong the righteous 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 calleth for stripes.
The lips of a fool enter into strife, And his mouth for stripes calleth.
7 A fool's mouth is destruction to him, and his lips are a snare to 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 talebearer are as dainty morsels, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
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 who is indolent in his work is brother of the 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: the righteous runneth 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 honour [goeth] humility.
Before destruction the heart of man is high, And before honour [is] humility.
13 He that giveth answer before he heareth, it is folly and shame unto him.
Whoso is answering a matter before he heareth, Folly it is to him and shame.
14 The spirit of a man sustaineth 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 an intelligent [man] getteth knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.
The heart of the intelligent getteth knowledge, And the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.
16 A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.
The gift of a man maketh room for him, And before the great it leadeth him.
17 He that is first in his own cause [seemeth] just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him.
Righteous [is] the first in his own cause, His neighbour cometh and hath searched him.
18 The lot causeth contentions to cease, and parteth 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 contentions are as the bars of a palace.
A brother transgressed against is as a strong city, And contentions as the bar of a palace.
20 A man's belly is satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; with the increase of his lips is he 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 hath found a wife hath found a good thing, and hath obtained favour from Jehovah.
[Whoso] hath found a wife hath found good, And bringeth out good-will from Jehovah.
23 He that is poor speaketh with supplications, but the rich answereth roughly.
[With] supplications doth the poor speak, And the rich answereth fierce things.
24 A man of [many] friends will come to ruin but there is a friend [that] sticketh closer than a brother.
A man with friends [is] to show himself friendly, And there is a lover adhering more than a brother!
