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
18
1Whoever #[Jude 19]isolates himself seeks his own desire;
he breaks out against all sound judgment.
2A fool takes no pleasure in understanding,
but only #ch. 13:16; [Eccles. 10:3]in expressing his opinion.
3When wickedness comes, contempt comes also,
and with dishonor comes disgrace.
4The words of a man’s mouth are #ch. 20:5deep waters;
the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.
5It is not good to #ch. 24:23; 28:21; Lev. 19:15; Deut. 1:17; Ps. 82:2 be partial to#18:5 Hebrew to lift the face of the wicked
or to #See ch. 17:15deprive the righteous of justice.
6A fool’s lips walk into a fight,
and his mouth invites #See ch. 19:29a beating.
7 # ch. 10:14; 12:13; 13:3; Ps. 64:8; 140:9; Eccles. 10:12 A fool’s mouth is his ruin,
and his lips are a snare to his soul.
8 # ch. 26:22; [ch. 16:28] The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels;
they go down into #ch. 20:27the inner parts of the body.
9Whoever is slack in his work
is a #[ch. 28:24]brother to him who destroys.
10 # See Ex. 34:5-7 The name of the Lord is #Ps. 61:3; [Ps. 18:2]; See 2 Sam. 22:3 a strong tower;
the righteous man runs into it and #[Ps. 20:1]is safe.
11 # See ch. 10:15 A rich man’s wealth is his strong city,
and like a high wall in his imagination.
12 # See ch. 11:2 Before destruction a man’s heart is haughty,
but #ch. 15:33humility comes before honor.
13If one gives an answer #[John 7:51]before he hears,
it is his folly and shame.
14A man’s spirit will endure sickness,
but #ch. 15:13a crushed spirit who can bear?
15An intelligent heart acquires knowledge,
and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
16A man’s #[Gen. 32:20; 1 Sam. 25:27]; See ch. 17:8gift makes room for him
and brings him before the great.
17The one who states his case first seems right,
until the other comes and examines him.
18 # [ch. 16:33] The lot puts an end to quarrels
and decides between powerful contenders.
19A brother offended is more unyielding than a strong city,
and quarreling is like the bars of a castle.
20 # See ch. 12:14 From the fruit of a man’s mouth his stomach is satisfied;
he is satisfied by the yield of his lips.
21 #
Matt. 12:36, 37; [ch. 4:23; 12:13] Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
and those who love it will eat its fruits.
22He who finds #ch. 12:4; 19:14; See ch. 31:10-31 a wife finds #[Gen. 2:18] a good thing
and #ch. 8:35 obtains favor #ch. 19:14from the Lord.
23The poor use entreaties,
but #[James 2:3, 6]the rich answer roughly.
24A man of many companions may come to ruin,
but #See ch. 17:17there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
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