Proverbs 18
18
1Unfriendly people care only about themselves;
they lash out at common sense.
2Fools have no interest in understanding;
they only want to air their own opinions.
3Doing wrong leads to disgrace,
and scandalous behavior brings contempt.
4Wise words are like deep waters;
wisdom flows from the wise like a bubbling brook.
5It is not right to acquit the guilty
or deny justice to the innocent.
6Fools’ words get them into constant quarrels;
they are asking for a beating.
7The mouths of fools are their ruin;
they trap themselves with their lips.
8Rumors are dainty morsels
that sink deep into one’s heart.
9A lazy person is as bad as
someone who destroys things.
10The name of the Lord is a strong fortress;
the godly run to him and are safe.
11The rich think of their wealth as a strong defense;
they imagine it to be a high wall of safety.
12Haughtiness goes before destruction;
humility precedes honor.
13Spouting off before listening to the facts
is both shameful and foolish.
14The human spirit can endure a sick body,
but who can bear a crushed spirit?
15Intelligent people are always ready to learn.
Their ears are open for knowledge.
16Giving a gift can open doors;
it gives access to important people!
17The first to speak in court sounds right—
until the cross-examination begins.
18Flipping a coin#18:18 Hebrew Casting lots. can end arguments;
it settles disputes between powerful opponents.
19An offended friend is harder to win back than a fortified city.
Arguments separate friends like a gate locked with bars.
20Wise words satisfy like a good meal;
the right words bring satisfaction.
21The tongue can bring death or life;
those who love to talk will reap the consequences.
22The man who finds a wife finds a treasure,
and he receives favor from the Lord.
23The poor plead for mercy;
the rich answer with insults.
24There are “friends” who destroy each other,
but a real friend sticks closer than a brother.
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Proverbs 18: NLT
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Holy Bible, New Living Translation copyright 1996, 2004, 2007, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation.
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Proverbs 18
18
1A man who isolates himself pursues selfishness,
and defies all sound judgment.
2A fool has no delight in understanding,
but only in revealing his own opinion.
3When wickedness comes, contempt also comes,
and with shame comes disgrace.
4The words of a man’s mouth are like deep waters.
The fountain of wisdom is like a flowing brook.
5To be partial to the faces of the wicked is not good,
nor to deprive the innocent of justice.
6A fool’s lips come into strife,
and his mouth invites beatings.
7A fool’s mouth is his destruction,
and his lips are a snare to his soul.
8The words of a gossip are like dainty morsels:
they go down into a person’s innermost parts.
9One who is slack in his work
is brother to him who is a master of destruction.
10Yahweh’s name is a strong tower:
the righteous run to him, and are safe.
11The rich man’s wealth is his strong city,
like an unscalable wall in his own imagination.
12Before destruction the heart of man is proud,
but before honor is humility.
13He who answers before he hears,
that is folly and shame to him.
14A man’s spirit will sustain him in sickness,
but a crushed spirit, who can bear?
15The heart of the discerning gets knowledge.
The ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
16A man’s gift makes room for him,
and brings him before great men.
17He who pleads his cause first seems right—
until another comes and questions him.
18The lot settles disputes,
and keeps strong ones apart.
19A brother offended is more difficult than a fortified city.
Disputes are like the bars of a fortress.
20A man’s stomach is filled with the fruit of his mouth.
With the harvest of his lips he is satisfied.
21Death and life are in the power of the tongue;
those who love it will eat its fruit.
22Whoever finds a wife finds a good thing,
and obtains favor of Yahweh.
23The poor plead for mercy,
but the rich answer harshly.
24A man of many companions may be ruined,
but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
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