Proverbs 18

1 Selfish people only please themselves, they attack anything that makes good sense.

A man who isolates himself pursues selfishness, and defies all sound judgment.

2 Stupid people have no interest in trying to understand, they only want to express their opinions.

A fool has no delight in understanding, but only in revealing his own opinion.

3 With wickedness comes contempt; with dishonor comes disgrace.

When wickedness comes, contempt also comes, and with shame comes disgrace.

4 People's words can be profound like deep waters, a gushing stream that is the source of wisdom.

The words of a man’s mouth are like deep waters. The fountain of wisdom is like a flowing brook.

5 It's not right to show favoritism to the guilty and rob the innocent of justice.

To be partial to the faces of the wicked is not good, nor to deprive the innocent of justice.

6 What stupid people say gets them into fights, as if they're asking for a beating.

A fool’s lips come into strife, and his mouth invites beatings.

7 Stupid people are caught out by what they say; their own words trap them.

A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are a snare to his soul.

8 Listening to gossip is like gulping down bites of your favorite food—they go deep down inside you.

The words of a gossip are like dainty morsels: they go down into a person’s innermost parts.

9 Laziness and destruction are brothers.

One who is slack in his work is brother to him who is a master of destruction.

10 The Lord is a protective tower that good people can run to and be safe.

The LORD’s name is a strong tower: the righteous run to him, and are safe.

11 Rich people see their wealth as a fortified town—it's like a high wall in their imagination.

The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, like an unscalable wall in his own imagination.

12 Pride leads to destruction; humility goes before honor.

Before destruction the heart of man is proud, but before honor is humility.

13 Replying before hearing is stupidity and shame.

He who answers before he hears, that is folly and shame to him.

14 With a brave spirit you can put up with sickness, but if it's crushed, you can't bear it.

A man’s spirit will sustain him in sickness, but a crushed spirit, who can bear?

15 An intelligent mind acquires knowledge; the wise are ready to hear knowledge.

The heart of the discerning gets knowledge. The ear of the wise seeks knowledge.

16 A gift opens doors for you, and gets you into the presence of important people.

A man’s gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men.

17 The first person to plead a case sounds right until someone comes to cross-examine them.

He who pleads his cause first seems right— until another comes and questions him.

18 Casting lots can end disputes and decide between powerful people.

The lot settles disputes, and keeps strong ones apart.

19 A brother you've offended is harder to win back than a fortified town. Arguments keep people apart like bars on the doors of a fortress.

A brother offended is more difficult than a fortified city. Disputes are like the bars of a fortress.

20 Make sure you're satisfied with what you say—you have to live with your words.

A man’s stomach is filled with the fruit of his mouth. With the harvest of his lips he is satisfied.

21 What you say has the power to bring life or to kill; those who love talking will have to deal with the consequences.

Death and life are in the power of the tongue; those who love it will eat its fruit.

22 If you find a wife, that's great, and you'll be blessed by the Lord.

Whoever finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor of the LORD.

23 The poor beg for mercy, but the rich reply harshly.

The poor plead for mercy, but the rich answer harshly.

24 Some friends give up on you, but there's a friend who stays closer to you than a brother.

A man of many companions may be ruined, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.