Proverbs 18

¹He that separateth himself seeketh his own desire,

And rageth against all sound wisdom.

²A fool hath no delight in understanding,

But only that his heart may reveal itself.

³When the wicked cometh, there cometh also contempt,

And with ignominy cometh reproach.

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

The wellspring of wisdom is as a flowing brook.

⁵To respect the person of the wicked is not good,

Nor to turn aside the righteous in judgment.

⁶A fool’s lips enter into contention,

And his mouth calleth for stripes.

⁷A fool’s mouth is his destruction,

And his lips are the snare of his soul.

⁸The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels,

And they go down into the innermost parts.

⁹He also that is slack in his work

Is brother to him that is a destroyer.

¹⁰The name of Jehovah is a strong tower;

The righteous runneth into it, and is safe.

¹¹The rich man’s wealth is his strong city,

And as a high wall in his own imagination.

¹²Before destruction the heart of man is haughty;

And before honor goeth humility.

¹³He that giveth answer before he heareth,

It is folly and shame unto him.

¹⁴The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity;

But a broken spirit who can bear?

¹⁵The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge;

And the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.

¹⁶A man’s gift maketh room for him,

And bringeth him before great men.

¹⁷He that pleadeth his cause first seemeth just;

But his neighbor cometh and searcheth him out.

¹⁸The lot causeth contentions to cease,

And parteth between the mighty.

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

And such contentions are like the bars of a castle.

²⁰A man’s belly shall be filled with the fruit of his mouth;

With the increase of his lips shall he be satisfied.

²¹Death and life are in the power of the tongue;

And they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

²²Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing,

And obtaineth favor of Jehovah.

²³The poor useth entreaties;

But the rich answereth roughly.

²⁴He that maketh many friends doeth it to his own destruction;

But there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.