Proverbs 18
18
1Unfriendly people look out for themselves;
they bicker with sensible people.
2Fools find no pleasure in understanding,
but only in expressing their opinion.
3When the wicked arrive, so does contempt;
with shame comes insult.
4The words of a person’s mouth are deep waters,
a bubbling stream, a fountain of wisdom.
5Favoring the wicked isn’t good;
it denies justice to the righteous.
6The lips of fools make accusations;
their mouths elicit beatings.
7The mouth of fools is their ruin;
their lips are a trap for their lives.
8The words of gossips are like choice snacks;
they go down to the inmost parts.
9Those who are lazy in their work
are brothers to thugs.
10The LORD’s name is a strong tower;
the righteous run to it and find refuge.
11The riches of the wealthy are a strong city
and like a high wall in their imagination.
12Pride comes before a disaster,
but humility comes before respect.
13Those who answer before they listen
are foolish and disgraceful.
14The human spirit sustains a sick person,
but who can bear a broken spirit?
15An understanding mind gains knowledge;
the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
16A gift opens the way
for access to important people.
17The first person to testify seems innocent,
until the other comes and cross-examines him.
18The dice settle conflicts
and keep strong opponents apart.
19An offended ally is more formidable than a city;
such quarreling is like the bars of a castle.
20The stomach is satisfied
by the fruit of the mouth;
one’s lips can earn a satisfying income.
21Death and life are in the power of the tongue;
those who love it will eat its fruit.
22He who finds a wife finds what is good,
gaining favor from the LORD.
23The poor plead for help,
but the wealthy answer harshly.
24There are persons for companionship,
but then there are friends who are more loyal than family.
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Proverbs 18: CEB
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2011 Common English Bible. All rights reserved.
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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