Proverbs 18
1 A man seeketh, for satisfaction, going his own way, through all safe counsel, he breaketh.
He who is separated seeks [his own] desire, He interferes with all wisdom.
2 A dullard, delighteth not, in understanding, in nothing save the exposing of his own heart.
A fool does not delight in understanding, But in uncovering his heart.
3 When the lawless man cometh in, then cometh also contempt, and, with shame, reproach.
Contempt has also come with the coming of the wicked, And with shame—reproach.
4 Deep waters, are the words of a man’s mouth, —a bubbling brook, the well-spring of wisdom.
The words of a man’s mouth [are] deep waters, The fountain of wisdom [is] a flowing brook.
5 To prefer a lawless man, is not good, thrusting away the righteous, in judgment.
Favoring of the face of the wicked [is] not good, To turn aside the righteous in judgment.
6 the lips of a dullard, enter into contention, and his mouth, for blows, crieth out.
The lips of a fool enter into strife, And his mouth calls for stripes.
7 The mouth of a dullard, is his ruin, and, his lips, are a snare to his soul.
The mouth of a fool [is] ruin to him, And his lips [are] the snare of his soul.
8 the words of a tattler, are dainties, they, therefore go down into the chambers of the inner man.
The words of a tale-bearer [are] as self-inflicted wounds, And they have gone down [to] the inner parts of the heart.
9 Surely he that is slothful in his work, brother, is he to a master at laying waste.
He also that is remiss in his work, He [is] a brother to a destroyer.
10 A tower of strength, is the Name of Yahweh, thereinto, runneth the righteous, and is safe.
The Name of YHWH [is] a tower of strength, The righteous runs into it, and is set on high.
11 The substance of a rich man, is his strong city, and like a high wall, in his imagination.
The wealth of the rich [is] the city of his strength, And as a wall set on high in his own imagination.
12 Before grievous injury, a man’s heart is haughty, and, before honour, is humility.
The heart of man is high before destruction, And humility [is] before honor.
13 He that answereth before he heareth, a folly, it is to him, and, a reproach.
Whoever is answering a matter before he hears, It is folly to him—and shame.
14 The spirit of a man, sustaineth his sickness, but, a dejected spirit, who can bear it?
The spirit of a man sustains his sickness, And who bears a struck spirit?
15 the heart of the intelligent, acquireth knowledge, yea, the ear of the wise, seeketh knowledge.
The heart of the intelligent gets knowledge, And the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
16 The gift of a man, maketh room for him, and, before great men, setteth him down.
The gift of a man makes room for him, And it leads him before the great.
17 Righteous is he that is first in his own cause, then cometh his neighbour, and thoroughly searcheth him.
The first in his own cause [seems] righteous, [But] his neighbor comes and has searched him.
18 The lot causeth, contentions, to cease, and, the mighty, it parteth.
The lot causes contentions to cease, And it separates between the mighty.
19 A brother estranged, [is worse] than a strong city, —and, contentions, are as the bar of a citadel.
A brother transgressed against is as a strong city, And contentions as the bar of a palace.
20 Of the fruit of a man’s mouth, shall his inmost mind be satisfied, with the product of his lips, shall he be satisfied.
From the fruit of a man’s mouth is his belly satisfied, [From the] increase of his lips he is satisfied.
21 Death and life, are in the power of the tongue, and, its friends, shall eat its fruits.
Death and life [are] in the power of the tongue, And those loving it eat its fruit.
22 Who hath found a wife, hath found a blessing, and hath obtained favour from Yahweh.
[Whoever] has found a wife has found good, And brings out goodwill from YHWH.
23 Supplications, doth the poor man utter, but, the rich, answereth fiercely.
The poor speaks [with] supplications, And the rich answers fierce things.
24 A man having [many] friends, shall come to ruin, but there is a loving one, who sticketh closer than a brother.
A man with friends—to show himself friendly, And there is a lover adhering more than a brother!
