Proverbs 18

Contrast of the Upright and the Wicked

¹One who separates himself seeks his own desire;

He quarrels against all sound wisdom.

²A fool does not delight in understanding,

But in revealing his own mind.

³When a wicked person comes, contempt also comes,

And with dishonor comes taunting.

⁴The words of a person’s mouth are deep waters;

The fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.

⁵To show partiality to the wicked is not good,

Nor to suppress the righteous in judgment.

⁶A fool’s lips bring strife,[#18:6 Lit come with]

And his mouth invites beatings.

⁷A fool’s mouth is his ruin,

And his lips are the snare of his soul.

⁸The words of a gossiper are like dainty morsels,

And they go down into the innermost parts of the body.

⁹He also who is lax in his work

Is a brother to him who destroys.

¹⁰The name of the Lord is a strong tower;

The righteous runs into it and is safe.

¹¹A rich person’s wealth is his strong city,

And like a high wall in his own imagination.

¹²Before destruction the heart of a person is haughty,

But humility goes before honor.

¹³One who gives an answer before he hears,

It is foolishness and shame to him.

¹⁴The spirit of a person can endure his sickness,

But as for a broken spirit, who can endure it?

¹⁵The mind of the discerning acquires knowledge,[#18:15 Lit heart]

And the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.

¹⁶A person’s gift makes room for him

And brings him before great people.

¹⁷The first to plead his case seems right,[#18:17 Lit in his plea]

Until another comes and examines him.

¹⁸The cast lot puts an end to quarrels,

And decides between the mighty ones.

¹⁹A brother who is offended is harder to be won than a strong city,

And quarrels are like the bars of a citadel.

²⁰With the fruit of a person’s mouth his stomach will be satisfied;[#18:20 I.e., speech]

He will be satisfied with the product of his lips.

²¹Death and life are in the power of the tongue,[#18:21 Lit hand]

And those who love it will eat its fruit.

²²He who finds a wife finds a good thing

And obtains favor from the Lord .

²³A poor person utters pleadings,

But a rich person answers defiantly.

²⁴A person of too many friends comes to ruin,[#18:24 Lit be broken in pieces]

But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.