Proverbs 18
18:1 One who has isolated himself1 seeks his own desires;2
he rejects3 all sound judgment.
18:2 A fool takes no pleasure4 in understanding
but only in disclosing5 what is on his mind.6
18:3 When a wicked person7 arrives, contempt8 shows up with him,
and with shame comes9 a reproach.
18:4 The words of a person’s mouth are like10 deep waters,11
and12 the fountain of wisdom13 is like14 a flowing brook.15
18:5 It is terrible16 to show partiality17 to the wicked,18
by depriving19 a righteous man of justice.
18:6 The lips of a fool20 enter into strife,21
and his mouth invites22 a flogging.23
18:7 The mouth of a fool is his ruin,
and his lips are a snare for his life.24
18:8 The words of a gossip25 are like choice morsels;26
they go down into the person’s innermost being.27
18:9 The one who28 is slack29 in his work
is a brother30 to one who destroys.31
18:10 The name of the
the righteous person runs35 to it and is set safely on high.36
18:11 The wealth37 of a rich person is like38 a strong city,39
and it is like a high wall in his imagination.40
18:12 Before destruction the heart41 of a person is proud,
but humility comes42 before honor.43
18:13 The one who gives an answer44 before he listens45 –
that is his folly and his shame.46
18:14 A person’s spirit47 sustains him through sickness –
but who can bear48 a crushed spirit?49
18:15 The discerning person50 acquires knowledge,
and the wise person51 seeks52 knowledge.
18:16 A person’s gift53 makes room for him,
and leads him54 before important people.
18:17 The first to state his case55 seems56 right,
until his opponent57 begins to58 cross-examine him.59
18:18 A toss of a coin60 ends61 disputes,
and settles the issue62 between strong opponents.63
18:19 A relative64 offended65 is harder to reach than66 a strong city,
and disputes are like the barred gates67 of a fortified citadel.68
18:20 From the fruit of a person’s mouth69 his stomach is satisfied,70
with the product of his lips is he satisfied.
18:21 Death and life are in the power71 of the tongue,72
and those who love its use73 will eat its fruit.
18:22 The one who finds74 a wife finds what is enjoyable,75
and receives a pleasurable gift76 from the
18:23 A poor person makes supplications,78
but a rich man answers harshly.79
18:24 A person who has friends80 may be harmed by them,81
but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.