Proverbs 18
1 An unfriendly man pursues selfishness, and defies all sound judgment.
Selfish people only please themselves, they attack anything that makes good sense.
2 A fool has no delight in understanding, but only in revealing his own opinion.
Stupid people have no interest in trying to understand, they only want to express their opinions.
3 When wickedness comes, contempt also comes, and with shame comes disgrace.
With wickedness comes contempt; with dishonor comes disgrace.
4 The words of a man's mouth are like deep waters. The fountain of wisdom is like a flowing brook.
People's words can be profound like deep waters, a gushing stream that is the source of wisdom.
5 To be partial to the faces of the wicked is not good, nor to deprive the innocent of justice.
It's not right to show favoritism to the guilty and rob the innocent of justice.
6 A fool's lips come into strife, and his mouth invites beatings.
What stupid people say gets them into fights, as if they're asking for a beating.
7 A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are a snare to his soul.
Stupid people are caught out by what they say; their own words trap them.
8 The words of a gossip are like tasty morsels, and they go down into a person's innermost parts.
Listening to gossip is like gulping down bites of your favorite food—they go deep down inside you.
9 One who is slack in his work is brother to him who is a master of destruction.
Laziness and destruction are brothers.
10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run into it and are safe.
The Lord is a protective tower that good people can run to and be safe.
11 The rich man's wealth is his strong city, like an unscalable wall in his own imagination.
Rich people see their wealth as a fortified town—it's like a high wall in their imagination.
12 Before destruction the heart of man is proud, but before honor is humility.
Pride leads to destruction; humility goes before honor.
13 He who gives answer before he hears, that is folly and shame to him.
Replying before hearing is stupidity and shame.
14 A man's spirit will sustain him in sickness, but a crushed spirit, who can bear?
With a brave spirit you can put up with sickness, but if it's crushed, you can't bear it.
15 The heart of the discerning gets knowledge. The ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
An intelligent mind acquires knowledge; the wise are ready to hear knowledge.
16 A man's gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men.
A gift opens doors for you, and gets you into the presence of important people.
17 He who pleads his cause first seems right; until another comes and questions him.
The first person to plead a case sounds right until someone comes to cross-examine them.
18 The lot settles disputes, and keeps strong ones apart.
Casting lots can end disputes and decide between powerful people.
19 A brother offended is more difficult than a fortified city; and disputes are like the bars of a fortress.
A brother you've offended is harder to win back than a fortified town. Arguments keep people apart like bars on the doors of a fortress.
20 A man's stomach is filled with the fruit of his mouth. With the harvest of his lips he is satisfied.
Make sure you're satisfied with what you say—you have to live with your words.
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue; those who love it will eat its fruit.
What you say has the power to bring life or to kill; those who love talking will have to deal with the consequences.
22 Whoever finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor of the LORD.
If you find a wife, that's great, and you'll be blessed by the Lord.
23 The poor plead for mercy, but the rich answer harshly.
The poor beg for mercy, but the rich reply harshly.
24 A man of many companions may be ruined, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Some friends give up on you, but there's a friend who stays closer to you than a brother.
