Proverbs 18
1 He who is separated seeks [his own] desire, He interferes with all wisdom.
He who separateth himself seeketh his own desire; Against all sound discretion he rusheth on.
2 A fool does not delight in understanding, But in uncovering his heart.
The fool hath no delight in understanding, But rather in revealing his own mind.
3 Contempt has also come with the coming of the wicked, And with shame—reproach.
When the wicked cometh, then cometh also contempt; And with baseness, shame.
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 wellspring of wisdom is an overflowing brook.
5 Favoring of the face of the wicked [is] not good, To turn aside the righteous in judgment.
It is not good to be partial to the wicked, So as to overthrow the righteous in judgment.
6 The lips of a fool enter into strife, And his mouth calls for stripes.
The lips of a fool enter into strife, And his mouth calleth for blows.
7 The mouth of a fool [is] ruin to him, And his lips [are] the snare of his soul.
A fool's mouth is his destruction, And his lips are a snare for his life.
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 like sweet morsels; For they go down to the innermost parts of the body.
9 He also that is remiss in his work, He [is] a brother to a destroyer.
Moreover, he that is slothful in his work Is brother to 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 to 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 conceit.
12 The heart of man is high before destruction, And humility [is] before honor.
Before destruction the heart of a man is haughty, And before honor is humility.
13 Whoever is answering a matter before he hears, It is folly to him—and shame.
He who answereth a matter before he hath heard it, It is folly and shame to him.
14 The spirit of a man sustains his sickness, And who bears a struck spirit?
The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; But a wounded spirit who can bear?
15 The heart of the intelligent gets knowledge, And the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
The heart of the intelligent will acquire knowledge, And the ear of the wise will seek knowledge.
16 The gift of a man makes room for him, And it leads him before the great.
A gift maketh room for a man, And bringeth him into the presence of the great.
17 The first in his own cause [seems] righteous, [But] his neighbor comes and has searched him.
He that first pleadeth his cause appeareth just; But his opponent cometh, and searcheth him through.
18 The lot causes contentions to cease, And it separates between the mighty.
The lot causeth contentions to cease, And parteth asunder 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; Yea, their contentions are like the bars of a castle.
20 From the fruit of a man’s mouth is his belly satisfied, [From the] increase of his lips he is satisfied.
With the fruit of a man's mouth shall his stomach be filled; He shall be filled with the produce of his lips.
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; They that love it shall eat its fruit.
22 [Whoever] has found a wife has found good, And brings out goodwill from YHWH.
He that findeth a wife findeth a blessing, And obtaineth favor from the LORD.
23 The poor speaks [with] supplications, And the rich answers fierce things.
The poor useth entreaties; 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 show himself false; Yet there is a friend who sticketh closer than a brother.
