Proverbs 18
1 Desire he seeks [one who] separates himself on all sound wisdom he bursts out.
A man who isolates himself pursues selfishness, and defies all sound judgment.
2 Not he delights a fool in understanding that except in revealing itself heart his.
A fool has no delight in understanding, but only in revealing his own opinion.
3 When comes a wicked [person] it comes also contempt and with shame reproach.
When wickedness comes, contempt also comes, and with shame comes disgrace.
4 [are] waters Deep [the] words of [the] mouth of a person a wadi flowing a fountain of wisdom.
The words of a man’s mouth are like deep waters. The fountain of wisdom is like a flowing brook.
5 To lift up [the] face of a wicked [person] not [is] good to turn aside a righteous [person] in judgment.
To be partial to the faces of the wicked is not good, nor to deprive the innocent of justice.
6 [the] lips of A fool they go in strife and mouth his for blows it calls.
A fool’s lips come into strife, and his mouth invites beatings.
7 [the] mouth of A fool [is] ruin of him and lips his [are] [the] snare of life his.
A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are a snare to his soul.
8 [the] words of A slanderer [are] like delicacies and they they go down [the] chambers of [the] belly.
The words of a gossip are like dainty morsels: they go down into a person’s innermost parts.
9 Also [one who] shows himself idle in work his [is] a brother he of a master of destruction.
One who is slack in his work is brother to him who is a master of destruction.
10 [is] a tower of Strength [the] name of Yahweh in it he runs a righteous [person] and he is set on high.
The LORD’s name is a strong tower: the righteous run to him, and are safe.
11 [the] wealth of A rich [person] [is] [the] town of strength his and like a wall high in own imagination his.
The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, like an unscalable wall in his own imagination.
12 Before destruction it is haughty [the] heart of a person and [is] before honor humility.
Before destruction the heart of man is proud, but before honor is humility.
13 [one who] brings back A word before he listens [is] folly it of him and ignominy.
He who answers before he hears, that is folly and shame to him.
14 [the] spirit of A person it will endure sickness his and a spirit stricken who? will he bear it.
A man’s spirit will sustain him in sickness, but a crushed spirit, who can bear?
15 A heart discerning it acquires knowledge and [the] ear of wise [people] it seeks knowledge.
The heart of the discerning gets knowledge. The ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
16 [the] gift of A person it makes space for him and before great [people] it leads him.
A man’s gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men.
17 [is] righteous The first in case his (and he will come *Q(K)*) neighbor his and he will examine him.
He who pleads his cause first seems right— until another comes and questions him.
18 Contentions it puts an end to the lot and between mighty [people] it separates.
The lot settles disputes, and keeps strong ones apart.
19 A brother transgressed [is] more than a town of strength (and contentions *Q(K)*) [are] like [the] bar of a fortress.
A brother offended is more difficult than a fortified city. Disputes are like the bars of a fortress.
20 From [the] fruit of [the] mouth of a person it is satisfied belly his [the] produce of lips his he is satisfied.
A man’s stomach is filled with the fruit of his mouth. With the harvest of his lips he is satisfied.
21 Death and life [are] in [the] hand of [the] tongue and [those who] love it he will eat fruit its.
Death and life are in the power of the tongue; those who love it will eat its fruit.
22 He finds a wife he finds a good thing and he obtained pleasure from Yahweh.
Whoever finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor of the LORD.
23 Supplications he speaks a poor [person] and a rich [person] he answers strong [words].
The poor plead for mercy, but the rich answer harshly.
24 A person of companions [is] to be broken and there [is one who] loves cleaving more than a brother.
A man of many companions may be ruined, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
