Proverbios 18
1 SEGÚN [su] antojo busca el que se desvía, y se entremete en todo negocio.
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 No toma placer el necio en la inteligencia, sino en lo que su corazón se descubre.
Foolish people do not want to understand [anything]; they only want to (express their [own] opinions/say what they think) [IDM].
3 Cuando viene el impío, viene también el menosprecio, y con el deshonrador la afrenta.
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 Aguas profundas son las palabras de la boca del hombre; y arroyo revertiente, 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 Tener respeto á la persona del impío, para hacer caer al justo de [su] derecho, no es bueno.
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 Los labios del necio vienen con pleito; y su boca á cuestiones llama.
When foolish people [SYN] start arguments, [it is as though] they [SYN] are requesting/inviting someone to flog/whip them.
7 La boca del necio es quebrantamiento para sí, y sus labios son lazos para su alma.
What foolish people [MTY] say causes them to be ruined; their [own] words are [like] a trap [MET] [that catches/seizes] them.
8 Las palabras del chismoso parecen blandas, y descienden hasta lo íntimo del vientre.
[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 También el que es negligente en su obra es hermano del hombre disipador.
People who are lazy while they work are [just as bad] as [IDM] those who destroy things.
10 Torre fuerte es el nombre de Jehová: á él correrá el justo, y será levantado.
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 Las riquezas del rico son la ciudad de su fortaleza, y 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 Antes del quebrantamiento se eleva el corazón del hombre, y antes de la honra es el abatimiento.
Proud people are on the road to being ruined, but being humble leads to being honored.
13 El que responde palabra antes de oir, le es fatuidad y oprobio.
Those who reply to someone before that person has finished speaking are foolish; doing that is disgraceful.
14 El ánimo del hombre soportará su enfermedad: mas ¿quién soportará al ánimo angustiado?
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 El corazón del entendido adquiere sabiduría; y el oído de los sabios busca la ciencia.
Intelligent people [are always wanting to] learn more; wise people [SYN] are not content with what they already know.
16 El presente del hombre le ensancha [el camino], y le lleva delante de los grandes.
If you take a gift to an important person, that will open the way to allow you to talk to him.
17 El primero en su propia causa [parece] justo; y su adversario viene, y le sondea.
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 La suerte pone fin á los pleitos, y desparte los fuertes.
If two influential/important people are arguing, [someone can] settle the matter by (casting lots/throwing marked stones to decide who is right).
19 El hermano ofendido [es más tenaz] que una ciudad fuerte: y las contiendas [de los hermanos] son como cerrojos de alcázar.
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 Del fruto de la boca del hombre se hartará su vientre; hartaráse del producto de sus labios.
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 La muerte y la vida están en poder de la lengua; y el que la ama comerá de sus frutos.
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 El que halló esposa halló el bien, y alcanzó la benevolencia de Jehová.
If you marry a [good] woman, that is [like] finding a wonderful thing; [it shows that] Yahweh is pleased with you.
23 El pobre habla con ruegos; mas el rico responde durezas.
[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 El hombre [que tiene] amigos, ha de mostrarse amigo: y amigo hay más conjunto que el 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.
