Proverbs 18
18
Contrast the Upright and the Wicked
1He who [willfully] separates himself [from God and man] seeks his own desire,
He quarrels against all sound wisdom.
2A [closed-minded] fool does not delight in understanding,
But only in revealing his personal opinions [unwittingly displaying his self-indulgence and his stupidity].
3When the wicked man comes [to the depth of evil], contempt [of all that is pure and good] also comes,
And with inner baseness (dishonor) comes outer shame (scorn).
4The words of a man’s mouth are like deep waters [copious and difficult to fathom];
The fountain of [mature, godly] wisdom is like a bubbling stream [sparkling, fresh, pure, and life-giving].
5To show respect to the wicked person is not good,
Nor to push aside and deprive the righteous of justice.
6A fool’s lips bring contention and strife,
And his mouth invites a beating.
7A fool’s mouth is his ruin,
And his lips are the snare of his soul.
8The words of a whisperer (gossip) are like dainty morsels [to be greedily eaten];
They go down into the innermost chambers of the body [to be remembered and mused upon].
9He who is careless in his work
Is a brother to him who destroys.
10The name of the Lord is a strong tower;
The righteous runs to it and is safe and set on high [far above evil].
11The rich man’s wealth is his strong city,
And like a high wall [of protection] in his own imagination and conceit.
12Before disaster the heart of a man is haughty and filled with self-importance,
But humility comes before honor.
13He who answers before he hears [the facts]—
It is folly and shame to him. [John 7:51]
14The spirit of a man sustains him in sickness,
But as for a broken spirit, who can bear it?
15The mind of the prudent [always] acquires knowledge,
And the ear of the wise [always] seeks knowledge.
16A man’s gift [given in love or courtesy] makes room for him
And brings him before great men. [Gen 32:20; 1 Sam 25:27; Prov 17:8; 21:14]
17The first one to plead his case seems right,
Until another comes and cross-examines him.
18 # 18:18 See note 16:33. To cast lots puts an end to quarrels
And decides between powerful contenders.
19A brother offended is harder to win over than a fortified city,
And contentions [separating families] are like the bars of a castle.
20A man’s stomach will be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth;
He will be satisfied with the consequence of his words.
21Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
And those who love it and indulge it will eat its fruit and bear the consequences of their words. [Matt 12:37]
22He who finds a [#18:22 In Jewish tradition it is said that in Israel, they used to ask a man who had married, “Matsa or motse?” “Matsa” is the Hebrew for “finds” here, where a good wife is in view, and “motse” is the word for “found” (NASB “discovered”) in Eccl 7:26.true and faithful] wife finds a good thing
And obtains favor and approval from the Lord. [Prov 19:14; 31:10]
23The poor man pleads,
But the rich man answers roughly.
24The man of too many friends [chosen indiscriminately] will be broken in pieces and come to ruin,
But there is a [true, loving] friend who [is reliable and] sticks closer than a brother.
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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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