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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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 hath a mind to depart from a friend seeketh occasions: he shall ever be subject to reproach.
2A fool receiveth not the words of prudence: unless thou say those things which are in his heart.
3The wicked man when he is come into the depth of sine, contemneth: but ignominy and reproach follow him.
4Words from the mouth of a men are as deep water: and the fountain of wisdom as an overflowing stream.
5It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to decline from the truth of judgment.
6The lips of a fool intermeddle with strife: and his mouth provoketh quarrels.
7The mouth of a fool is his destruction: and his lips are the ruin of his soul.
8The words of the double tongued are as if they were harmless: and they reach even to the inner parts of the bowels. Fear casteth down the slothful: and the souls of the effeminate shall be hungry.
9He that is loose and slack in his work, is the brother of him that wasteth his own works.
10The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the just runneth to it, and shall be exalted.
11The substance of the rich man is the city of his strength, and as a strong wall compassing him about.
12Before destruction, the heart of a man is exalted: and before he be glorified, it is humbled.
13He that answereth before he heareth sheweth himself to be a fool, and worthy of confusion.
14The spirit of a man upholdeth his infirmity: but a spirit that is easily angered, who can bear?
15A wise heart shall acquire knowledge: and the ear of the wise seeketh instruction.
16A man's gift enlargeth his may, and maketh him room before princes.
17The just is first accuser of himself: his friend cometh, and shall search him.
18The lot suppresseth contentions, and determineth even between the mighty.
19A brother that is helped by his brother, is like a strong city: and judgments are like the bars of cities.
20Of the fruit of a man's mouth shall his belly be satisfied: and the offspring of his lips shall fill him.
21Death and life are in the power of the tongue: they that love it, shall eat the fruits thereof.
22He that hath found a good wife, hath found a good thing, and shall receive a pleasure from the Lord. He that driveth away a good wife, driveth away a good thing: but he that keepeth an adulteress, is foolish and wicked.
23The poor will speak with supplications, and the rich will speak roughly.
24A man amiable in society, shall be more friendly than a brother.
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An historical text maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society.