Proverbiorum 18
1 Occasiones quaerit qui vult recedere ab amico: omni tempore erit exprobrabilis.
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 Non recipit stultus verba prudentiae: nisi ea dixeris quae versantur in corde eius.
Foolish people do not want to understand [anything]; they only want to (express their [own] opinions/say what they think) [IDM].
3 Impius, cum in profundum venerit peccatorum, contemnit: sed sequitur eum ignominia et opprobrium.
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 Aqua profunda verba ex ore viri: et torrens redundans fons sapientiae.
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 Accipere personam impii in iudicio non est bonum, ut declines a veritate iudicii.
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 Labia stulti miscent se rixis: et os eius iurgia provocat.
When foolish people [SYN] start arguments, [it is as though] they [SYN] are requesting/inviting someone to flog/whip them.
7 Os stulti contritio eius: et labia ipsius, ruina animae eius.
What foolish people [MTY] say causes them to be ruined; their [own] words are [like] a trap [MET] [that catches/seizes] them.
8 Verba bilinguis, quasi simplicia: et ipsa perveniunt usque ad interiora ventris. Pigrum deiicit timor: animae autem effeminatorum esurient.
[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 Qui mollis et dissolutus est in opere suo, frater est sua opera dissipantis.
People who are lazy while they work are [just as bad] as [IDM] those who destroy things.
10 Turris fortissima, nomen Domini: ad ipsam currit iustus, et exaltabitur.
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 Substantia divitis urbs roboris eius, et quasi murus validus circumdans eum.
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 Antequam conteratur, exaltatur cor hominis: et antequam glorificetur, humiliatur.
Proud people are on the road to being ruined, but being humble leads to being honored.
13 Qui prius respondet quam audiat, stultum se esse demonstrat, et confusione dignum.
Those who reply to someone before that person has finished speaking are foolish; doing that is disgraceful.
14 Spiritus viri sustentat imbecillitatem suam: spiritum vero ad irascendum facilem quis poterit sustinere?
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 Cor prudens possidebit scientiam: et auris sapientium quaerit doctrinam.
Intelligent people [are always wanting to] learn more; wise people [SYN] are not content with what they already know.
16 Donum hominis dilatat viam eius, et ante principes spatium ei facit.
If you take a gift to an important person, that will open the way to allow you to talk to him.
17 Iustus, prior est accusator sui: venit amicus eius, et investigabit eum.
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 Contradictiones comprimit sors, et inter potentes quoque diiudicat.
If two influential/important people are arguing, [someone can] settle the matter by (casting lots/throwing marked stones to decide who is right).
19 Frater, qui adiuvatur a fratre, quasi civitas firma: et iudicia quasi vectes urbium.
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 De fructu oris viri replebitur venter eius: et genimina labiorum ipsius saturabunt eum.
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 Mors, et vita in manu linguae: qui diligunt eam, comedent fructus eius.
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 Qui invenit mulierem bonam, invenit bonum: et hauriet iucunditatem a Domino. Qui expellit mulierem bonam, expellit bonum: qui autem tenet adulteram, stultus est et insipiens.
If you marry a [good] woman, that is [like] finding a wonderful thing; [it shows that] Yahweh is pleased with you.
23 Cum obsecrationibus loquitur pauper: et dives effabitur rigide.
[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 Vir amicabilis ad societatem, magis amicus erit, quam frater.
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.
