Proverbs 18:2-8
Proverbs 18:2-8 The Message (MSG)
Fools care nothing for thoughtful discourse; all they do is run off at the mouth. When wickedness arrives, shame’s not far behind; contempt for life is contemptible. Many words rush along like rivers in flood, but deep wisdom flows up from artesian springs. It’s not right to go easy on the guilty, or come down hard on the innocent. The words of a fool start fights; do him a favor and gag him. Fools are undone by their big mouths; their souls are crushed by their words. Listening to gossip is like eating cheap candy; do you really want junk like that in your belly?
Proverbs 18:2-8 King James Version (KJV)
A fool hath no delight in understanding, But that his heart may discover itself. When the wicked cometh, then cometh also contempt, And with ignominy reproach. The words of a man's mouth are as deep waters, And the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook. It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, To overthrow the righteous in judgment. A fool's lips enter into contention, And his mouth calleth for strokes. A fool's mouth is his destruction, And his lips are the snare of his soul. The words of a talebearer are as wounds, And they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
Proverbs 18:2-8 New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995 (NASB1995)
A fool does not delight in understanding, But only in revealing his own mind. When a wicked man comes, contempt also comes, And with dishonor comes scorn. The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters; The fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook. To show partiality to the wicked is not good, Nor to thrust aside the righteous in judgment. A fool’s lips bring strife, And his mouth calls for blows. A fool’s mouth is his ruin, And his lips are the snare of his soul. The words of a whisperer are like dainty morsels, And they go down into the innermost parts of the body.
Proverbs 18:2-8 New Century Version (NCV)
Fools do not want to understand anything. They only want to tell others what they think. Do something evil, and people won’t like you. Do something shameful, and they will make fun of you. Spoken words can be like deep water, but wisdom is like a flowing stream. It is not good to honor the wicked or to be unfair to the innocent. The words of fools start quarrels. They make people want to beat them. The words of fools will ruin them; their own words will trap them. The words of a gossip are like tasty bits of food. People like to gobble them up.
Proverbs 18:2-8 American Standard Version (ASV)
A fool hath no delight in understanding, But only that his heart may reveal itself. When the wicked cometh, there cometh also contempt, And with ignominy cometh reproach. The words of a man’s mouth are as deep waters; The wellspring of wisdom is as a flowing brook. To respect the person of the wicked is not good, Nor to turn aside the righteous in judgment. A fool’s lips enter into contention, And his mouth calleth for stripes. A fool’s mouth is his destruction, And his lips are the snare of his soul. The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, And they go down into the innermost parts.
Proverbs 18:2-8 New International Version (NIV)
Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. When wickedness comes, so does contempt, and with shame comes reproach. The words of the mouth are deep waters, but the fountain of wisdom is a rushing stream. It is not good to be partial to the wicked and so deprive the innocent of justice. The lips of fools bring them strife, and their mouths invite a beating. The mouths of fools are their undoing, and their lips are a snare to their very lives. The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts.
Proverbs 18:2-8 New King James Version (NKJV)
A fool has no delight in understanding, But in expressing his own heart. When the wicked comes, contempt comes also; And with dishonor comes reproach. The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters; The wellspring of wisdom is a flowing brook. It is not good to show partiality to the wicked, Or to overthrow the righteous in judgment. A fool’s lips enter into contention, And his mouth calls for blows. A fool’s mouth is his destruction, And his lips are the snare of his soul. The words of a talebearer are like tasty trifles, And they go down into the inmost body.
Proverbs 18:2-8 Amplified Bible (AMP)
A [closed-minded] fool does not delight in understanding, But only in revealing his personal opinions [unwittingly displaying his self-indulgence and his stupidity]. When 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). The 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]. To show respect to the wicked person is not good, Nor to push aside and deprive the righteous of justice. A fool’s lips bring contention and strife, And his mouth invites a beating. A fool’s mouth is his ruin, And his lips are the snare of his soul. The 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].
Proverbs 18:2-8 New Living Translation (NLT)
Fools have no interest in understanding; they only want to air their own opinions. Doing wrong leads to disgrace, and scandalous behavior brings contempt. Wise words are like deep waters; wisdom flows from the wise like a bubbling brook. It is not right to acquit the guilty or deny justice to the innocent. Fools’ words get them into constant quarrels; they are asking for a beating. The mouths of fools are their ruin; they trap themselves with their lips. Rumors are dainty morsels that sink deep into one’s heart.
Proverbs 18:2-8 The Passion Translation (TPT)
Senseless people find no pleasure in acquiring true wisdom, for all they want to do is impress you with what they know. An ungodly man is always cloaked with disgrace, as dishonor and shame are his companions. Words of wisdom are like a fresh, flowing brook— like deep waters that spring forth from within, bubbling up inside the one with understanding. It is atrocious when judges show favor to the guilty and deprive the innocent of justice. A senseless man jumps headfirst into an argument; he’s just asking for a beating for his reckless words. A fool has a big mouth that only gets him into trouble, and he’ll pay the price for what he says. The words of a gossip merely reveal the wounds of his own soul, and his slander penetrates into the innermost being.
Proverbs 18:2-8 English Standard Version 2025 (ESV)
A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion. When wickedness comes, contempt comes also, and with dishonor comes disgrace. The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters; the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook. It is not good to be partial to the wicked or to deprive the righteous of justice. A fool’s lips walk into a fight, and his mouth invites a beating. A fool’s mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to his soul. The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body.
