Proverbs 18

1 An unfriendly man pursues selfishness, and defies all sound judgment.

One who isolates himself seeks his own desire and he quarrels with all sound judgment.

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

A fool finds no pleasure in understanding, but only in revealing what is in his own heart.

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

When a wicked person comes, contempt comes with him— along with shame and reproach.

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

The words of a man's mouth are deep waters; the fountain of wisdom is a flowing stream.

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

It is not good to be partial to the wicked person, nor to deny justice to the righteous person.

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

A fool's lips bring him conflict and his mouth invites a beating.

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

A fool's mouth is his ruin and he ensnares himself with his lips.

8 The words of a gossip are like tasty morsels, and they go down into a person's innermost parts.

The words of a gossip are like delicious morsels and they go down into the inner parts of the body.

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

Also, one who is slack in his work is a brother to the one who destroys the most.

10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run into it and are safe.

The name of Yahweh is a strong tower; the righteous person runs into it and is safe.

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

The wealth of the rich is his fortified city and in his imagination it is like a high wall.

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

Before his downfall a person's heart is proud, but humility comes before honor.

13 He who gives answer before he hears, that is folly and shame to him.

One who answers before listening— it is his folly and shame.

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

A person's spirit will survive sickness, but a broken spirit who can bear it?

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

The heart of the intelligent acquires knowledge and the hearing of the wise seeks it out.

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

A man's gift may open the way and bring him before an important person.

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

The first to plead his case seems right until his opponent comes and questions him.

18 The lot settles disputes, and keeps strong ones apart.

Casting the lot settles disputes and separates strong opponents.

19 A brother offended is more difficult than a fortified city; and disputes are like the bars of a fortress.

An offended brother is harder to be won than a strong city, and quarreling is like the bars of a castle.

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

From the fruit of his mouth one's stomach is filled; with the harvest of his lips he is satisfied.

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

Death and life are controlled by the tongue, and those who love the tongue will eat its fruit.

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

He who finds a wife finds a good thing and receives favor from Yahweh.

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

A poor person pleads for mercy, but a rich person answers harshly.

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

The one who claims many friends is brought to ruin by them, but there is a friend who comes closer than a brother.