Proverbs 18
1 A man who isolates himself pursues selfishness, and defies all sound judgment.
Those who separate themselves [from other people] think [only] about those things that they are interested in; [if they would continually associate with] those who have good judgment/sense, they would constantly disagree/quarrel with them.
2 A fool has no delight in understanding, but only in revealing his own opinion.
Foolish people do not want to understand [anything]; they only want to (express their [own] opinions/say what they think) [IDM].
3 When wickedness comes, contempt also comes, and with shame comes disgrace.
Whenever people do wicked things, others will despise them; when people do things that cause themselves to no [longer] be honored, they will be disgraced [also].
4 The words of a man’s mouth are like deep waters. The fountain of wisdom is like a flowing brook.
What wise people say is [like] a deep ocean [that you can never get to the bottom of] [MET], and it [refreshes us like water from] a rapidly flowing 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 [for a judge] to decide matters in favor of those who (are guilty/have done wicked things) and to not do what is just for those who (are innocent/have not done what is wrong).
6 A fool’s lips come into strife, and his mouth invites beatings.
When foolish people [SYN] start arguments, [it is as though] they [SYN] are requesting/inviting someone to flog/whip them.
7 A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are a snare to his soul.
What foolish people [MTY] say causes them to be ruined; their [own] words are [like] a trap [MET] [that catches/seizes] them.
8 The words of a gossip are like dainty morsels: they go down into a person’s innermost parts.
[People enjoy listening to] what gossips say like [SIM] [they enjoy] tasty food; they [accept what gossips tell them like] [MET] they swallow tasty food.
9 One who is slack in his work is brother to him who is a master of destruction.
People who are lazy while they work are [just as bad] as [IDM] those who destroy things.
10 Yahweh’s name is a strong tower: the righteous run to him, and are safe.
Yahweh [MTY] is [like] a strong tower [MET]; righteous people [can] go to him and be safe [like they can run to a tower to be safe].
11 The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, like an unscalable wall in his own imagination.
Rich people [are protected because they have] a lot of money [PRS] like a city is protected because it has a high wall surrounding it [SIM].
12 Before destruction the heart of man is proud, but before honor is humility.
Proud people are on the road to being ruined, but being humble leads to being honored.
13 He who answers before he hears, that is folly and shame to him.
Those who reply to someone before that person has finished speaking are foolish; doing that is disgraceful.
14 A man’s spirit will sustain him in sickness, but a crushed spirit, who can bear?
A desire to [continue to] live can sustain someone when he is sick; if he loses that desire, he (cannot endure it/will become very discouraged) when he is sick [RHQ].
15 The heart of the discerning gets knowledge. The ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
Intelligent people [are always wanting to] learn more; wise people [SYN] are not content with what they already know.
16 A man’s gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men.
If you take a gift to an important person, that will open the way to allow you to talk to him.
17 He who pleads his cause first seems right— until another comes and questions him.
The first person to present his case in court seems right, but when (someone else/his opponent) begins to ask him questions, [it may become clear that what he said was not true].
18 The lot settles disputes, and keeps strong ones apart.
If two influential/important people are arguing, [someone can] settle the matter by (casting lots/throwing marked stones to decide who is right).
19 A brother offended is more difficult than a fortified city. Disputes are like the bars of a fortress.
If you help relatives, they will [protect you] like [SIM] a strong wall [protects a city], but if you quarrel with them, [that will separate you from them] like bars on a city gate [separate the city from those who want to enter it] [MET].
20 A man’s stomach is filled with the fruit of his mouth. With the harvest of his lips he is satisfied.
People are happy when they hear others say [MTY] something that is good, [like] they are happy when they eat food that is good [MET].
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue; those who love it will eat its fruit.
What you say can cause others to be killed or it can cause them to [continue to] live; [so] those who like [to talk a lot] must (accept the consequences/realize that what they say can cause much harm).
22 Whoever finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor of Yahweh.
If you marry a [good] woman, that is [like] finding a wonderful thing; [it shows that] Yahweh is pleased with you.
23 The poor plead for mercy, but the rich answer harshly.
[It is necessary for] poor [people] to speak politely when they request [rich people to do something for them], but rich [people] reply very impolitely when poor people speak to them.
24 A man of many companions may be ruined, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
There are [some] people who [only] pretend to be friends [with us], but there are [some] friends who are more loyal than members of our families.
