Proverbs 18
1 He who is separated seeks [his own] desire, He interferes with all wisdom.
He that separateth himself seeketh [his] pleasure, he is vehement against all sound wisdom.
2 A fool does not delight in understanding, But in uncovering his heart.
A fool hath no delight in understanding, but only that his heart may reveal itself.
3 Contempt has also come with the coming of the wicked, And with shame—reproach.
When the wicked cometh, there cometh also contempt, and with ignominy reproach.
4 The words of a man’s mouth [are] deep waters, The fountain of wisdom [is] a flowing brook.
The words of a man's mouth are deep waters, [and] the fountain of wisdom is a gushing brook.
5 Favoring of the face of the wicked [is] not good, To turn aside the righteous in judgment.
It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to wrong the righteous in judgment.
6 The lips of a fool enter into strife, And his mouth calls for stripes.
A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for stripes.
7 The mouth of a fool [is] ruin to him, And his lips [are] the snare of his soul.
A fool's mouth is destruction to him, and his lips are a snare to his soul.
8 The words of a tale-bearer [are] as self-inflicted wounds, And they have gone down [to] the inner parts of the heart.
The words of a talebearer are as dainty morsels, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
9 He also that is remiss in his work, He [is] a brother to a destroyer.
He also who is indolent in his work is brother of the destroyer.
10 The Name of YHWH [is] a tower of strength, The righteous runs into it, and is set on high.
The name of Jehovah is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.
11 The wealth of the rich [is] the city of his strength, And as a wall set on high in his own imagination.
The rich man's wealth is his strong city, and as a high wall in his own imagination.
12 The heart of man is high before destruction, And humility [is] before honor.
Before destruction the heart of man is haughty; and before honour [goeth] humility.
13 Whoever is answering a matter before he hears, It is folly to him—and shame.
He that giveth answer before he heareth, it is folly and shame unto him.
14 The spirit of a man sustains his sickness, And who bears a struck spirit?
The spirit of a man sustaineth his infirmity; but a broken spirit who can bear?
15 The heart of the intelligent gets knowledge, And the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
The heart of an intelligent [man] getteth knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.
16 The gift of a man makes room for him, And it leads him before the great.
A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.
17 The first in his own cause [seems] righteous, [But] his neighbor comes and has searched him.
He that is first in his own cause [seemeth] just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him.
18 The lot causes contentions to cease, And it separates between the mighty.
The lot causeth contentions to cease, and parteth between the mighty.
19 A brother transgressed against is as a strong city, And contentions as the bar of a palace.
A brother offended is [harder to be won] than a strong city; and contentions are as the bars of a palace.
20 From the fruit of a man’s mouth is his belly satisfied, [From the] increase of his lips he is satisfied.
A man's belly is satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; with the increase of his lips is he satisfied.
21 Death and life [are] in the power of the tongue, And those loving it eat its fruit.
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
22 [Whoever] has found a wife has found good, And brings out goodwill from YHWH.
Whoso hath found a wife hath found a good thing, and hath obtained favour from Jehovah.
23 The poor speaks [with] supplications, And the rich answers fierce things.
He that is poor speaketh with supplications, but the rich answereth roughly.
24 A man with friends—to show himself friendly, And there is a lover adhering more than a brother!
A man of [many] friends will come to ruin but there is a friend [that] sticketh closer than a brother.
