Pro Proverbs, chapter Proverbs of Solomon, chapter 18
Contrast of the Upright and the Wicked
One who separates himself seeks his own desire;
He 18:1 Lit breaks outquarrels against all sound wisdom.
A fool does not delight in understanding,
But in revealing his own 18:2 Lit heartmind.
When a wicked person comes, contempt also comes,
And with dishonor comes taunting.
The words of a person’s mouth are deep waters;
18:4 Or A bubbling brook, a fountain of wisdomThe fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.Pro 20:5
To show partiality to the wicked is not good,
Nor to suppress the righteous in judgment.Lev 19:15; Deu 1:17; Pro 24:23
A fool’s lips 18:6 Lit come withbring strife,
And his mouth invites beatings.
A fool’s mouth is his ruin,
And his lips are the snare of his soul.Pro 10:14; Pro 12:13
The words of a gossiper are like dainty morsels,
And they go down into the 18:8 Lit chambers of the bellyinnermost parts of the body.
He also who is lax in his work
Is a brother to him who destroys.
The name of the Lord is a strong tower;
The righteous runs into it and is 18:10 Lit set on highsafe.Psa 20:1; Pro 14:26
A rich person’s wealth is his strong city,
And like a high wall in his own imagination.Pro 10:15
Before destruction the heart of a person is haughty,
But humility goes before honor.Pro 16:18
One who gives an answer before he hears,
It is foolishness and shame to him.
The spirit of a person can endure his sickness,
But as for a broken spirit, who can endure it?
The 18:15 Lit heartmind of the discerning acquires knowledge,
And the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
A person’s gift makes room for him
And brings him before great people.Pro 17:8; Mat 2:11
The first 18:17 Lit in his pleato plead his case seems right,
Until 18:17 Lit his neighboranother comes and examines him.
The cast lot puts an end to quarrels,
And 18:18 Lit makes a divisiondecides between the mighty ones.
A brother who is offended is harder to be won than a strong city,
And quarrels are like the bars of a citadel.
With the 18:20 I.e., speechfruit of a person’s mouth his stomach will be satisfied;
He will be satisfied with the product of his lips.Pro 14:14; Isa 3:10
Death and life are in the 18:21 Lit handpower of the tongue,
And those who love it will eat its fruit.Pro 13:3; Jas 3:8
He who finds a wife finds a good thing
And obtains favor from the Lord.Pro 19:14
A poor person utters pleadings,
But a rich person answers defiantly.
A person of too many friends comes to 18:24 Lit be broken in piecesruin,
But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.Pro 17:17