Proverbs 18

1 Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom.

For [an object of] desire he who is separated doth seek, With all wisdom he intermeddleth.

2 A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.

A fool delighteth not in understanding, But — in uncovering his heart.

3 When the wicked cometh, then cometh also contempt, and with ignominy reproach.

With the coming of the wicked come also hath contempt, And with shame — reproach.

4 The words of a man’s mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook.

Deep waters [are] the words of a man's mouth, The fountain of wisdom [is] a flowing brook.

5 It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment.

Acceptance of the face of the wicked [is] not good, To turn aside the righteous in judgment.

6 A fool’s lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes.

The lips of a fool enter into strife, And his mouth for stripes calleth.

7 A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.

The mouth of a fool [is] ruin to him, And his lips [are] the snare of his soul.

8 The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

The words of a tale-bearer [are] as self-inflicted wounds, And they have gone down [to] the inner parts of the heart.

9 He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.

He also that is remiss in his work, A brother he [is] to a destroyer.

10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.

A tower of strength [is] the name of Jehovah, Into it the righteous runneth, and is set on high.

11 The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, and as an high wall in his own conceit.

The wealth of the rich [is] the city of his strength, And as a wall set on high in his own imagination.

12 Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.

Before destruction the heart of man is high, And before honour [is] humility.

13 He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame to him.

Whoso is answering a matter before he heareth, Folly it is to him and shame.

14 The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?

The spirit of a man sustaineth his sickness, And a smitten spirit who doth bear?

15 The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.

The heart of the intelligent getteth knowledge, And the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.

16 A man’s gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.

The gift of a man maketh room for him, And before the great it leadeth him.

17 He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him.

Righteous [is] the first in his own cause, His neighbour cometh and hath searched him.

18 The lot causeth contentions to cease, and parteth between the mighty.

The lot causeth contentions to cease, And between the mighty it separateth.

19 A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.

A brother transgressed against is as a strong city, And contentions as the bar of a palace.

20 A man’s belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.

From the fruit of a man's mouth is his belly satisfied, [From the] increase of his lips he is satisfied.

21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit of it.

Death and life [are] in the power of the tongue, And those loving it eat its fruit.

22 Whoever findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour from the LORD.

[Whoso] hath found a wife hath found good, And bringeth out good-will from Jehovah.

23 The poor useth entreaties; but the rich answereth roughly.

[With] supplications doth the poor speak, And the rich answereth fierce things.

24 A man that hath friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

A man with friends [is] to show himself friendly, And there is a lover adhering more than a brother!