Proverbs 18
1 He who is separated seeks [his own] desire, He interferes with all wisdom.
For the desire thereof hee will separate himselfe to seeke it, and occupie himselfe in all wisdome.
2 A fool does not delight in understanding, But in uncovering his heart.
A foole hath no delite in vnderstanding: but that his heart may be discouered.
3 Contempt has also come with the coming of the wicked, And with shame—reproach.
When the wicked commeth, then commeth contempt, and with the vile man reproch.
4 The words of a man’s mouth [are] deep waters, The fountain of wisdom [is] a flowing brook.
The words of a mans mouth are like deepe waters, and the welspring of wisdome is like a flowing riuer.
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 cause ye righteous to fall in iudgement.
6 The lips of a fool enter into strife, And his mouth calls for stripes.
A fooles lips come with strife, 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 fooles mouth is his owne destruction, and his lips are a snare for his soule.
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 wordes of a tale bearer are as flatterings, and they goe downe into the bowels of the belly.
9 He also that is remiss in his work, He [is] a brother to a destroyer.
He also that is slouthfull in his worke, is euen the brother of him that is a great waster.
10 The Name of YHWH [is] a tower of strength, The righteous runs into it, and is set on high.
The Name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth vnto it, and is exalted.
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 mans riches are his strong citie: and as an hie wall in his imagination.
12 The heart of man is high before destruction, And humility [is] before honor.
Before destruction the heart of a man is hautie, and before glory goeth lowlines.
13 Whoever is answering a matter before he hears, It is folly to him—and shame.
He that answereth a matter before hee heare it, it is folly and shame vnto him.
14 The spirit of a man sustains his sickness, And who bears a struck spirit?
The spirit of a man will susteine his infirmitie: but a wounded spirit who can beare it?
15 The heart of the intelligent gets knowledge, And the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
A wise heart getteth knowledge, and the eare of the wise seeketh learning.
16 The gift of a man makes room for him, And it leads him before the great.
A mans gift enlargeth him, and leadeth 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 owne cause, is iust: then commeth his neighbour, and maketh inquirie of him.
18 The lot causes contentions to cease, And it separates between the mighty.
The lot causeth contentions to cease, and maketh a partition among the mightie.
19 A brother transgressed against is as a strong city, And contentions as the bar of a palace.
A brother offended is harder to winne then a strong citie, and their contentions are like the barre 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.
With the fruite of a mans mouth shall his belly be satisfied, and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.
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 ye tongue, and they that loue it, shall eate the fruite thereof.
22 [Whoever] has found a wife has found good, And brings out goodwill from YHWH.
He that findeth a wife, findeth a good thing, and receiueth fauour of the Lord.
23 The poor speaks [with] supplications, And the rich answers fierce things.
The poore speaketh with prayers: 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 that hath friends, ought to shew him selfe friendly: for a friend is neerer then a brother.
