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