Proverbs 18
1 He that hath a mind to depart from a friend seeketh occasions: he shall ever be subject to reproach.
He who desires to separate himself seeks excuses, and rages against all sound wisdom.
2 A fool receiveth not the words of prudence: unless thou say those things which are in his heart.
A fool has no delight in understanding, but only that his heart may reveal itself.
3 The wicked man when he is come into the depth of sins, contemneth: but ignominy and reproach follow him.
When a wicked man comes, contempt also comes, and with disgrace, reproach.
4 Words from the mouth of a men are as deep water: and the fountain of wisdom as an overflowing stream.
The words of a man's mouth are deep waters. The wellspring of wisdom is a flowing brook.
5 It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to decline from the truth of judgment.
To respect the person of a wicked man is not good, nor to turn aside a righteous man in judgment.
6 The lips of a fool intermeddle with strife: and his mouth provoketh quarrels.
A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calls for stripes.
7 The mouth of a fool is his destruction: and his lips are the ruin of his soul.
A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.
8 The words of the double tongued are as if they were harmless: and they reach even to the inner parts of the bowels. Fear casteth down the slothful: and the souls of the effeminate shall be hungry.
The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, and they go down into the innermost parts.
9 He that is loose and slack in his work, is the brother of him that wasteth his own works.
He also that is slack in his work is brother to him that is a destroyer.
10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the just runneth to it, and shall be exalted.
The name of Jehovah is a strong tower. A righteous man runs into it, and is safe.
11 The substance of the rich man is the city of his strength, and as a strong wall compassing him about.
The rich man's wealth is his strong city, and as a high wall in his own imagination.
12 Before destruction, the heart of a man is exalted: and before he be glorified, it is humbled.
Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honor is humility.
13 He that answereth before he heareth sheweth himself to be a fool, and worthy of confusion.
He who gives answer before he hears, it is folly and shame to him.
14 The spirit of a man upholdeth his infirmity: but a spirit that is easily angered, who can bear?
The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity, but a broken spirit who can bear?
15 A wise heart shall acquire knowledge: and the ear of the wise seeketh instruction.
The heart of a prudent man gets knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
16 A man’s gift enlargeth his may, and maketh him room before princes.
A man's gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men.
17 The just is first accuser of himself: his friend cometh, and shall search him.
He who pleads his case first seems just, but his neighbor comes and searches him out.
18 The lot suppresseth contentions, and determineth even between the mighty.
The lot causes contentions to cease, and decides between the mighty.
19 A brother that is helped by his brother, is like a strong city: and judgments are like the bars of cities.
A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city, and such contentions are like the bars of a castle.
20 Of the fruit of a man’s mouth shall his belly be satisfied: and the offspring of his lips shall fill him.
A man's belly shall be filled with the fruit of his mouth. With the increase of his lips he shall be satisfied.
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: they that love it, shall eat the fruits thereof.
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it shall eat the fruit of it.
22 He that hath found a good wife, hath found a good thing, and shall receive a pleasure from the Lord. He that driveth away a good wife, driveth away a good thing: but he that keepeth an adulteress, is foolish and wicked.
He who finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor from Jehovah.
23 The poor will speak with supplications, and the rich will speak roughly.
A poor man uses entreaties, but a rich man answers roughly.
24 A man amiable in society, shall be more friendly than a brother.
He who makes many friends does it to his own destruction, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
