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
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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