Proverbios 18
1 El que se mantiene separado para su propósito privado va en contra de todo buen sentido.
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 Un hombre necio no tiene placer en él entendimiento, sino sólo para que lo que está en su corazón salga a la luz.
Foolish people do not want to understand [anything]; they only want to (express their [own] opinions/say what they think) [IDM].
3 Cuando llega el malhechor, una baja opinión viene con él, y con la pérdida del honor viene la vergüenza.
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 la boca de un hombre son como aguas profundas; la fuente de la sabiduría es como una corriente que fluye.
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 por la persona del malhechor no es bueno, o dar una decisión equivocada contra el recto.
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 de un hombre necio son causa de pelea, y su boca lo abre a los golpes.
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 su destrucción, y sus labios son una red 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 de uno que dice mal de su prójimo en secreto son como alimento dulce, y descienden a las partes internas del estómago.
[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 El que no piensa en su obra, es hermano del que hace destrucción.
People who are lazy while they work are [just as bad] as [IDM] those who destroy things.
10 El nombre del Señor es una torre fuerte: el hombre recto que corre hacia ella está a salvo.
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 La propiedad de un hombre rico es su pueblo fuerte, y es como un alto muro en los pensamientos de su corazón.
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 de la destrucción, el corazón del hombre está lleno de orgullo, y antes el honor es un espíritu gentil.
Proud people are on the road to being ruined, but being humble leads to being honored.
13 Dar una respuesta antes de oír es una necedad y una causa de vergüenza.
Those who reply to someone before that person has finished speaking are foolish; doing that is disgraceful.
14 El espíritu de un hombre será su apoyo cuando esté enfermo; pero, ¿cómo puede levantarse un espíritu quebrantado?
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 hombre de buen sentido obtiene conocimiento; el oído del sabio está buscando conocimiento.
Intelligent people [are always wanting to] learn more; wise people [SYN] are not content with what they already know.
16 La ofrenda de un hombre le hace lugar, dejándolo ir delante de grandes hombres.
If you take a gift to an important person, that will open the way to allow you to talk to him.
17 El hombre que primero presenta su causa ante el juez parece tener razón; pero luego viene su vecino y pone su causa y expone la verdad.
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 decisión del azar pone fin a la discusión, separando al fuerte.
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 herido es como una ciudad amurallada, y los actos violentos separan como las rejas de una torre cerrada.
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 Con el fruto de la boca de un hombre, su estómago estará lleno; el producto de sus labios será suyo en toda su extensión.
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 aquellos a quienes les es querido tendrán su fruto para su alimento.
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 tiene esposa obtiene algo bueno, y tiene la aprobación del Señor.
If you marry a [good] woman, that is [like] finding a wonderful thing; [it shows that] Yahweh is pleased with you.
23 El pobre hace peticiones de gracia, pero el hombre rico da una respuesta áspera.
[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 Hay amigos que pueden ser la destrucción de un hombre, pero hay amigos que se mantiene más cerca 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.
