Proverbs 18
1 Selfish people only please themselves, they attack anything that makes good sense.
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 Stupid people have no interest in trying to understand, they only want to express their opinions.
Foolish people do not want to understand [anything]; they only want to (express their [own] opinions/say what they think) [IDM].
3 With wickedness comes contempt; with dishonor comes 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 People's words can be profound like deep waters, a gushing stream that is the source of wisdom.
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 It's not right to show favoritism to the guilty and rob 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 What stupid people say gets them into fights, as if they're asking for a beating.
When foolish people [SYN] start arguments, [it is as though] they [SYN] are requesting/inviting someone to flog/whip them.
7 Stupid people are caught out by what they say; their own words trap them.
What foolish people [MTY] say causes them to be ruined; their [own] words are [like] a trap [MET] [that catches/seizes] them.
8 Listening to gossip is like gulping down bites of your favorite food—they go deep down inside you.
[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 Laziness and destruction are brothers.
People who are lazy while they work are [just as bad] as [IDM] those who destroy things.
10 The Lord is a protective tower that good people can run to and be 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 Rich people see their wealth as a fortified town—it's like a high wall in their 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 Pride leads to destruction; humility goes before honor.
Proud people are on the road to being ruined, but being humble leads to being honored.
13 Replying before hearing is stupidity and shame.
Those who reply to someone before that person has finished speaking are foolish; doing that is disgraceful.
14 With a brave spirit you can put up with sickness, but if it's crushed, you can't bear it.
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 An intelligent mind acquires knowledge; the wise are ready to hear knowledge.
Intelligent people [are always wanting to] learn more; wise people [SYN] are not content with what they already know.
16 A gift opens doors for you, and gets you into the presence of important people.
If you take a gift to an important person, that will open the way to allow you to talk to him.
17 The first person to plead a case sounds right until someone comes to cross-examine them.
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 lots can end disputes and decide between powerful people.
If two influential/important people are arguing, [someone can] settle the matter by (casting lots/throwing marked stones to decide who is right).
19 A brother you've offended is harder to win back than a fortified town. Arguments keep people apart like bars on the doors of a fortress.
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 Make sure you're satisfied with what you say—you have to live with your words.
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 What you say has the power to bring life or to kill; those who love talking will have to deal with the consequences.
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 If you find a wife, that's great, and you'll be blessed by 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 beg for mercy, but the rich reply 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 Some friends give up on you, but there's a friend who stays closer to you 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.
