Proverbs 18
1 A man who isolates himself pursues selfishness, and defies all sound judgment.
He that hath a mind to depart from a friend seeketh occasions: he shall ever be subject to reproach.
2 A fool has no delight in understanding, but only in revealing his own opinion.
A fool receiveth not the words of prudence: unless thou say those things which are in his heart.
3 When wickedness comes, contempt also comes, and with shame comes disgrace.
The wicked man when he is come into the depth of sins, contemneth: but ignominy and reproach follow him.
4 The words of a man’s mouth are like deep waters. The fountain of wisdom is like a flowing brook.
Words from the mouth of a men are as deep water: and the fountain of wisdom as an overflowing stream.
5 To be partial to the faces of the wicked is not good, nor to deprive the innocent of justice.
It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to decline from the truth of judgment.
6 A fool’s lips come into strife, and his mouth invites beatings.
The lips of a fool intermeddle with strife: and his mouth provoketh quarrels.
7 A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are a snare to his soul.
The mouth of a fool is his destruction: and his lips are the ruin of his soul.
8 The words of a gossip are like dainty morsels: they go down into a person’s innermost parts.
The words of the double tongued are as if they were harmless: and they reach even to the inner parts of the bowels. Fear casteth down the slothful: and the souls of the effeminate shall be hungry.
9 One who is slack in his work is brother to him who is a master of destruction.
He that is loose and slack in his work, is the brother of him that wasteth his own works.
10 The LORD’s name is a strong tower: the righteous run to him, and are safe.
The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the just runneth to it, and shall be exalted.
11 The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, like an unscalable wall in his own imagination.
The substance of the rich man is the city of his strength, and as a strong wall compassing him about.
12 Before destruction the heart of man is proud, but before honor is humility.
Before destruction, the heart of a man is exalted: and before he be glorified, it is humbled.
13 He who answers before he hears, that is folly and shame to him.
He that answereth before he heareth sheweth himself to be a fool, and worthy of confusion.
14 A man’s spirit will sustain him in sickness, but a crushed spirit, who can bear?
The spirit of a man upholdeth his infirmity: but a spirit that is easily angered, who can bear?
15 The heart of the discerning gets knowledge. The ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
A wise heart shall acquire knowledge: and the ear of the wise seeketh instruction.
16 A man’s gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men.
A man’s gift enlargeth his may, and maketh him room before princes.
17 He who pleads his cause first seems right— until another comes and questions him.
The just is first accuser of himself: his friend cometh, and shall search him.
18 The lot settles disputes, and keeps strong ones apart.
The lot suppresseth contentions, and determineth even between the mighty.
19 A brother offended is more difficult than a fortified city. Disputes are like the bars of a fortress.
A brother that is helped by his brother, is like a strong city: and judgments are like the bars of cities.
20 A man’s stomach is filled with the fruit of his mouth. With the harvest of his lips he is satisfied.
Of the fruit of a man’s mouth shall his belly be satisfied: and the offspring of his lips shall fill him.
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue; those who love it will eat its fruit.
Death and life are in the power of the tongue: they that love it, shall eat the fruits thereof.
22 Whoever finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor of the LORD.
He that hath found a good wife, hath found a good thing, and shall receive a pleasure from the Lord. He that driveth away a good wife, driveth away a good thing: but he that keepeth an adulteress, is foolish and wicked.
23 The poor plead for mercy, but the rich answer harshly.
The poor will speak with supplications, and the rich will speak roughly.
24 A man of many companions may be ruined, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
A man amiable in society, shall be more friendly than a brother.
