Mishlei (Pro) 18
18
1He who separates himself indulges his desires
and shows contempt for sound advice of any kind.
2A fool takes no pleasure in trying to understand;
he only wants to express his own opinion.
3When a wicked person comes, contempt comes too,
and with disdain, provocation.
4The words of a man’s mouth are deep water,
a gushing torrent, a fountain of wisdom.
5It is not good to be partial to the guilty
and thus deprive the innocent of justice.
6A fool’s words get him into fights;
yes, his mouth calls out for a beating.
7A fool’s mouth is his ruin;
his words are a trap for him.
8A slanderer’s words are tasty morsels;
they slide right down into the belly.
9Whoever is lazy in doing his work
is brother to the destroyer.
10The name of Adonai is a strong tower;
a righteous person runs to it and is raised high [above danger].
11The wealth of the rich is his fortified city,
like a high wall, in his own imagination.
12Before being ruined, a person’s heart is proud;
before being honored, a person must be humble.
13To answer someone before hearing him out
is both stupid and embarrassing.
14A person’s spirit can sustain him when ill,
but a crushed spirit — who can bear it?
15The mind of a person with discernment gets knowledge,
and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
16A person’s gift clears his way
and gives him access to the great.
17The first to state his case seems right,
till the other one comes and cross-examines.
18Casting lots puts an end to strife
and separates powerful disputants.
19It is harder to win an offended brother than a strong city;
their fights are like the bars of a fortress.
20A person’s belly will be filled with the fruit of his mouth;
with what his lips produce he will be filled.
21The tongue has power over life and death;
those who indulge it must eat its fruit.
22He who finds a wife finds a great good;
he has won the favor of Adonai.
23The poor man speaks beseechingly,
the rich man’s answer is blunt.
24Some “friends” pretend to be friends,
but a true friend sticks closer than a brother.
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Mishlei (Pro) 18: CJB
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Learn More About Complete Jewish BibleProverbs 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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