Proverbs 18
18
1One who isolates himself pursues selfish desires;
he rebels against all sound wisdom.
2A fool does not delight in understanding,
but only wants to show off his opinions.#18:2 Lit to uncover his heart#Pr 12:23; 13:16; Ec 10:3
3When a wicked person comes, contempt also comes,
and along with dishonor, derision.
4The words of a person’s mouth are deep waters,#Pr 20:5
a flowing river, a fountain of wisdom.#18:4 Or waters; a fountain of wisdom is a flowing river
5It is not good to show partiality to the guilty,#Lv 19:15; Dt 1:17; 24:17; Ps 15:5; 82:2; Pr 24:23–24; 28:21
denying an innocent person justice.#Pr 17:15
6A fool’s lips lead to strife,
and his mouth provokes a beating.#Pr 19:29
7A fool’s mouth is his devastation,
and his lips are a trap for his life.#Ps 64:8; 140:9; Pr 10:14; 12:13; 13:3; Ec 10:12
8A gossip’s words are like choice food
that goes down to one’s innermost being.#18:8 Lit to the chambers of the belly#Pr 26:22
9The one who is lazy in his work
is brother to a vandal.#18:9 Lit master of destruction#Pr 28:24
10The name of the Lord is a strong tower;#Ps 18:2; 61:3; 91:2; 144:2
the righteous run to it and are protected.#18:10 Lit raised high#Pr 29:25
11The wealth of the rich is his fortified city;
in his imagination it is like a high wall.#Pr 10:15
12Before his downfall a person’s heart is proud,#Pr 16:18
but humility comes before honor.#Pr 11:2; 15:33; 29:23
13The one who gives an answer before he listens —
this is foolishness and disgrace for him.#Pr 15:28
14A person’s spirit can endure sickness,
but who can survive a broken spirit?#Pr 15:13; 17:22
15The mind of the discerning acquires knowledge,
and the ear of the wise seeks it.#Pr 14:33; 15:14
16A person’s gift opens doors#18:16 Lit gift makes room for him
and brings him before the great.#Gn 32:20; 1Sm 25:27; Pr 17:8; 19:6; 21:14
17The first to state his case seems right
until another comes and cross-examines him.#1Kg 3:16–28
18Casting the lot#Pr 16:33 ends quarrels
and separates powerful opponents.
19An offended brother is harder to reach#18:19 LXX, Syr, Tg, Vg read is stronger
than a fortified city,
and quarrels are like the bars of a fortress.
20From the fruit of a person’s mouth his stomach is satisfied;
he is filled with the product of his lips.#Pr 1:31; 12:14; 14:14
21Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
and those who love it will eat its fruit.#Pr 13:2; Mt 12:37; 15:11,18–20; Jms 3:8
22A man who finds a wife finds a good thing#Pr 12:4; 19:14; 31:10–31
and obtains favor from the Lord.#Pr 8:35
23The poor person pleads,#Pr 19:7
but the rich one answers roughly.#Jms 2:6
24One with many friends may be harmed,#18:24 Some LXX mss, Syr, Tg, Vg read friends must be friendly
but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother.#Pr 17:17; 27:10; Jn 15:13
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Proverbs 18: CSB
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© 2017 Holman Bible Publishers
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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