Proverbs 18
18
1An unfriendly person pursues selfish ends
and against all sound judgment starts quarrels.
2Fools find no pleasure in understanding
but delight in airing their own opinions.
3When wickedness comes, so does contempt,
and with shame comes reproach.
4The words of the mouth are deep waters,
but the fountain of wisdom is a rushing stream.
5It is not good to be partial to the wicked
and so deprive the innocent of justice.
6The lips of fools bring them strife,
and their mouths invite a beating.
7The mouths of fools are their undoing,
and their lips are a snare to their very lives.
8The words of a gossip are like choice morsels;
they go down to the inmost parts.
9One who is slack in his work
is brother to one who destroys.
10The name of the Lord is a fortified tower;
the righteous run to it and are safe.
11The wealth of the rich is their fortified city;
they imagine it a wall too high to scale.
12Before a downfall the heart is haughty,
but humility comes before honor.
13To answer before listening—
that is folly and shame.
14The human spirit can endure in sickness,
but a crushed spirit who can bear?
15The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge,
for the ears of the wise seek it out.
16A gift opens the way
and ushers the giver into the presence of the great.
17In a lawsuit the first to speak seems right,
until someone comes forward and cross-examines.
18Casting the lot settles disputes
and keeps strong opponents apart.
19A brother wronged is more unyielding than a fortified city;
disputes are like the barred gates of a citadel.
20From the fruit of their mouth a person’s stomach is filled;
with the harvest of their lips they are satisfied.
21The tongue has the power of life and death,
and those who love it will eat its fruit.
22He who finds a wife finds what is good
and receives favor from the Lord.
23The poor plead for mercy,
but the rich answer harshly.
24One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin,
but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
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The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®
Used by Permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.
Proverbs 18
18
1A loner is out to get what he wants for himself.
He opposes all sound reasoning.
2A fool does not find joy in understanding
but only in expressing his own opinion.
3When wickedness comes, contempt also comes,
and insult comes along with disgrace.
4The words of a person’s mouth are like deep waters.
The fountain of wisdom is an overflowing stream.
5It is not good to be partial toward a wicked person,
thereby depriving an innocent person of justice.
6By talking, a fool gets into an argument,
and his mouth invites a beating.
7A fool’s mouth is his ruin.
His lips are a trap to his soul.
8The words of a gossip are swallowed greedily,
and they go down into a person’s innermost being.
How to Avoid Fools and Foolishness
9Whoever is lazy in his work is related to a vandal.
10The name of the Lord is a strong tower.
A righteous person runs to it and is safe.
11A rich person’s wealth is his strong city
and is like a high wall in his imagination.
12Before destruction a person’s heart is arrogant,
but humility comes before honor.
13Whoever gives an answer before he listens is stupid and shameful.
14A person’s spirit can endure sickness,
but who can bear a broken spirit?
15The mind of a person who has understanding acquires knowledge.
The ears of wise people seek knowledge.
16A gift opens doors for the one who gives it
and brings him into the presence of great people.
17The first to state his case seems right
⌞until⌟ his neighbor comes to cross-examine him.
18Flipping a coin ends quarrels
and settles ⌞issues⌟ between powerful people.
19An offended brother is more ⌞resistant⌟ than a strong city,
and disputes are like the locked gate of a castle tower.
20A person’s speaking ability provides for his stomach.
His talking provides him a living.
21The tongue has the power of life and death,
and those who love to talk will have to eat their own words.
22Whoever finds a wife finds something good
and has obtained favor from the Lord.
23A poor person is timid when begging,
but a rich person is blunt when replying.
24Friends can destroy one another,#18:24 Or “A person has friends as companions.”
but a loving friend can stick closer than family.
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