Proverbs 18
1 He who is separated seeks [his own] desire, He interferes with all wisdom.
A man who wishes to separate from friends seeks excuses; but at all times he will be liable to reproach.
2 A fool does not delight in understanding, But in uncovering his heart.
A senseless man feels no need of wisdom, for he is rather led by folly.
3 Contempt has also come with the coming of the wicked, And with shame—reproach.
When an ungodly man comes into a depth of evils, he despises [them]; but dishonor and reproach come upon him.
4 The words of a man’s mouth [are] deep waters, The fountain of wisdom [is] a flowing brook.
A word in the heart of a man is a deep water, and a river and fountain of life spring forth.
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 ungodly, nor [is it] holy to pervert justice in judgment.
6 The lips of a fool enter into strife, And his mouth calls for stripes.
The lips of a fool bring [him] into troubles, and his bold mouth calls for death.
7 The mouth of a fool [is] ruin to him, And his lips [are] the snare of his soul.
A fool's mouth is ruin 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.
Fear casts down the slothful; and the souls of the effeminate shall hunger.
9 He also that is remiss in his work, He [is] a brother to a destroyer.
A man who helps not himself by his labor is brother of him that ruins himself.
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 of great strength; and the righteous running to it are 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 wealth of a rich man is a strong city; and its glory casts a broad shadow.
12 The heart of man is high before destruction, And humility [is] before honor.
Before ruin a man's heart is exalted, and before honor it is humble.
13 Whoever is answering a matter before he hears, It is folly to him—and shame.
Whoso answers a word before he hears [a cause], it is folly and reproach to him.
14 The spirit of a man sustains his sickness, And who bears a struck spirit?
A wise servant calms a man's anger; but who can endure a faint-hearted man?
15 The heart of the intelligent gets knowledge, And the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
The heart of the sensible [man] purchases discretion; and the ears of the wise seek understanding.
16 The gift of a man makes room for him, And it leads him before the great.
A man's gift enlarges him, and seats him among princes.
17 The first in his own cause [seems] righteous, [But] his neighbor comes and has searched him.
A righteous man accuses himself at the beginning of his speech, but when he has entered upon the attack, the adversary is reproved.
18 The lot causes contentions to cease, And it separates between the mighty.
A silent [man] quells strifes, and determines between great powers.
19 A brother transgressed against is as a strong city, And contentions as the bar of a palace.
A brother helped by a brother is as a strong and high city; and is [as] strong as a [well]-founded 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 fills his belly with the fruits of his mouth; and he shall be satisfied with the fruits of his lips.
21 Death and life [are] in the power of the tongue, And those loving it eat its fruit.
Life and death are in the power of the tongue; and they that rule it shall eat the fruits thereof.
22 [Whoever] has found a wife has found good, And brings out goodwill from YHWH.
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.]
23 The poor speaks [with] supplications, And the rich answers fierce things.
24 A man with friends—to show himself friendly, And there is a lover adhering more than a brother!
