Proverbs 18
1 A man who wishes to separate from friends seeks excuses; but at all times he will be liable to reproach.
For [an object of] desire he who is separated doth seek, With all wisdom he intermeddleth.
2 A senseless man feels no need of wisdom, for he is rather led by folly.
A fool delighteth not in understanding, But — in uncovering his heart.
3 When an ungodly man comes into a depth of evils, he despises [them]; but dishonor and reproach come upon him.
With the coming of the wicked come also hath contempt, And with shame — reproach.
4 A word in the heart of a man is a deep water, and a river and fountain of life spring forth.
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 ungodly, nor [is it] holy to pervert justice in judgment.
Acceptance of the face of the wicked [is] not good, To turn aside the righteous in judgment.
6 The lips of a fool bring [him] into troubles, and his bold mouth calls for death.
The lips of a fool enter into strife, And his mouth for stripes calleth.
7 A fool's mouth is ruin 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 Fear casts down the slothful; and the souls of the effeminate shall hunger.
The words of a tale-bearer [are] as self-inflicted wounds, And they have gone down [to] the inner parts of the heart.
9 A man who helps not himself by his labor is brother of him that ruins himself.
He also that is remiss in his work, A brother he [is] to a destroyer.
10 The name of the Lord is of great strength; and the righteous running to it are exalted.
A tower of strength [is] the name of Jehovah, Into it the righteous runneth, and is set on high.
11 The wealth of a rich man is a strong city; and its glory casts a broad shadow.
The wealth of the rich [is] the city of his strength, And as a wall set on high in his own imagination.
12 Before ruin a man's heart is exalted, and before honor it is humble.
Before destruction the heart of man is high, And before honour [is] humility.
13 Whoso answers a word before he hears [a cause], it is folly and reproach to him.
Whoso is answering a matter before he heareth, Folly it is to him and shame.
14 A wise servant calms a man's anger; but who can endure a faint-hearted man?
The spirit of a man sustaineth his sickness, And a smitten spirit who doth bear?
15 The heart of the sensible [man] purchases discretion; and the ears of the wise seek understanding.
The heart of the intelligent getteth knowledge, And the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.
16 A man's gift enlarges him, and seats him among princes.
The gift of a man maketh room for him, And before the great it leadeth him.
17 A righteous man accuses himself at the beginning of his speech, but when he has entered upon the attack, the adversary is reproved.
Righteous [is] the first in his own cause, His neighbour cometh and hath searched him.
18 A silent [man] quells strifes, and determines between great powers.
The lot causeth contentions to cease, And between the mighty it separateth.
19 A brother helped by a brother is as a strong and high city; and is [as] strong as a [well]-founded palace.
A brother transgressed against is as a strong city, And contentions as the bar of a palace.
20 A man fills his belly with the fruits of his mouth; and he shall be satisfied with the fruits of his lips.
From the fruit of a man's mouth is his belly satisfied, [From the] increase of his lips he is satisfied.
21 Life and death are in the power of the tongue; and they that rule it shall eat the fruits thereof.
Death and life [are] in the power of the tongue, And those loving it eat its fruit.
22 He that has found a good wife has found favours, and has received gladness from God. [He that puts away a good wife, puts away a good thing, and he that keeps an adulteress is foolish and ungodly.]
[Whoso] hath found a wife hath found good, And bringeth out good-will from Jehovah.
[With] supplications doth the poor speak, And the rich answereth fierce things.
A man with friends [is] to show himself friendly, And there is a lover adhering more than a brother!
