Proverbios 18
1 Los egoístas solo se complacen a sí mismos. Atacan todo lo que procede de la inteligencia.
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 los necios no les importa entender, sino solo expresar sus opiniones.
Foolish people do not want to understand [anything]; they only want to (express their [own] opinions/say what they think) [IDM].
3 Con la maldad viene el desprecio, y con la deshonra viene la desgracia.
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 Las palabras de las personas pueden ser profundas como las aguas; como una corriente que brota y es la fuente de la sabiduría.
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 No es correcto mostrar preferencia con el culpable y privar al inocente de la justicia.
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 Las palabras de los necios los meten en problemas, como si pidieran a gritos una paliza.
When foolish people [SYN] start arguments, [it is as though] they [SYN] are requesting/inviting someone to flog/whip them.
7 Los necios caen por sus propias palabras. Sus propias palabras los enredan en una trampa.
What foolish people [MTY] say causes them to be ruined; their [own] words are [like] a trap [MET] [that catches/seizes] them.
8 Escuchar chismes es como comer bocados de tu comida favorita. Llegan hasta lo más profundo.
[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 La pereza y la destrucción son hermanos.
People who are lazy while they work are [just as bad] as [IDM] those who destroy things.
10 El Señor es una torre protectora para los justos, bajo la cual pueden estar seguros.
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 Los ricos ven la riqueza como una ciudad fortificada. Es como un muro alto en su imaginación.
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 El orgullo conduce a la destrucción. La humildad precede a la honra.
Proud people are on the road to being ruined, but being humble leads to being honored.
13 Responder antes de escuchar es estupidez y vergüenza.
Those who reply to someone before that person has finished speaking are foolish; doing that is disgraceful.
14 Con un espíritu valiente podrás combatir la enfermedad, pero si tu espíritu está quebrantado, será imposible soportarla.
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 Una mente inteligente adquiere conocimiento; los sabios están prestos para escuchar el conocimiento.
Intelligent people [are always wanting to] learn more; wise people [SYN] are not content with what they already know.
16 Un don abrirá puertas para ti, y te llevará a la presencia de personas importantes.
If you take a gift to an important person, that will open the way to allow you to talk to him.
17 La primera persona en alegar un caso estará en lo correcto hasta que alguien llegue a examinarlos.
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 Entre los poderosos echar suertes puede acabar una disputa y mostrar la decisión correcta.
If two influential/important people are arguing, [someone can] settle the matter by (casting lots/throwing marked stones to decide who is right).
19 Un hermano a quien has ofendido será más difícil de reconquistar que una ciudad fortificada. Las peleas separan a las personas como barras en las puertas de un castillo.
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 Asegúrate de estar en paz con lo que dices, porque siempre tendrás que vivir con tus palabras.
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 Tus palabras tienen el poder de traer vida o muerte; aquellos que disfrutan hablar mucho tendrán que vivir con las consecuencias.
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 Si encuentras una esposa has hallado un bien, y serás bendecido por el Señor.
If you marry a [good] woman, that is [like] finding a wonderful thing; [it shows that] Yahweh is pleased with you.
23 Los pobres ruegan por misericordia, pero los ricos responden con dureza.
[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 Algunos amigos te abandonarán, pero hay un amigo que estará más cercano que un hermano.
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.
