Proverbs 18

¹One who isolates himself pursues selfish desires;

he rebels against all sound wisdom.

²A fool does not delight in understanding,

but only wants to show off his opinions. ^a,^b

³When a wicked person comes, contempt also comes,

and along with dishonor, derision.

⁴The words of a person’s mouth are deep waters, ^c

a flowing river, a fountain of wisdom. ^d

⁵It is not good to show partiality to the guilty, ^e

denying an innocent person justice. ^f

⁶A fool’s lips lead to strife,

and his mouth provokes a beating. ^g

⁷A fool’s mouth is his devastation,

and his lips are a trap for his life. ^h

⁸A gossip’s words are like choice food

that goes down to one’s innermost being. ⁱ,^j

⁹The one who is lazy in his work

is brother to a vandal. ^k,^l

¹⁰The name of the Lord is a strong tower; ^m

the righteous run to it and are protected. ⁿ,^o

¹¹The wealth of the rich is his fortified city;

in his imagination it is like a high wall. ^p

¹²Before his downfall a person’s heart is proud, ^q

but humility comes before honor. ^r

¹³The one who gives an answer before he listens —

this is foolishness and disgrace for him. ^s

¹⁴A person’s spirit can endure sickness,

but who can survive a broken spirit? ^t

¹⁵The mind of the discerning acquires knowledge,

and the ear of the wise seeks it. ^u

¹⁶A person’s gift opens doors ^v for him

and brings him before the great. ^w

¹⁷The first to state his case seems right

until another comes and cross-examines him. ^x

¹⁸Casting the lot ^y ends quarrels

and separates powerful opponents.

¹⁹An offended brother is harder to reach ^z

than a fortified city,

and quarrels are like the bars of a fortress.

²⁰From the fruit of a person’s mouth his stomach is satisfied;

he is filled with the product of his lips. ^aa

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

and those who love it will eat its fruit. ^ab

²²A man who finds a wife finds a good thing ^ac

and obtains favor from the Lord. ^ad

²³The poor person pleads, ^ae

but the rich one answers roughly. ^af

²⁴One with many friends may be harmed, ^ag

but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother. ^ah