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 honour.
13To answer before listening –
that is folly and shame.
14The human spirit can endure in times of illness,
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 favour 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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Proverbs 18: NIVUK
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The Holy Bible, New International Version® (Anglicised), NIV®
Copyright © 1979, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®
Used by permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.
Proverbs 18
18
1He that separateth himself seeketh his pleasure, he is vehement against all sound wisdom.
2A fool hath no delight in understanding, but only that his heart may reveal itself.
3When the wicked cometh, there cometh also contempt, and with ignominy reproach.
4The words of a man's mouth are deep waters, and the fountain of wisdom is a gushing brook.
5It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to wrong the righteous in judgment.
6A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for stripes. 7A fool's mouth is destruction to him, and his lips are a snare to his soul.
8The words of a talebearer are as dainty morsels, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
9He also who is indolent in his work is brother of the destroyer.
10The name of Jehovah is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.
11The rich man's wealth is his strong city, and as a high wall in his own imagination.
12Before destruction the heart of man is haughty; and before honour goeth humility.
13He that giveth answer before he heareth, it is folly and shame unto him.
14The spirit of a man sustaineth his infirmity; but a broken spirit who can bear?
15The heart of an intelligent man getteth knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.
16A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.
17He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him.
18The lot causeth contentions to cease, and parteth between the mighty.
19A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city; and contentions are as the bars of a palace.
20A man's belly is satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; with the increase of his lips is he satisfied.
21Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
22Whoso hath found a wife hath found a good thing, and hath obtained favour from Jehovah.
23He that is poor speaketh with supplications, but the rich answereth roughly.
24A man of many friends will come to ruin but there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
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First published in 1890. This edition is maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society.