Proverbs 18

¹Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire;

he breaks out against all sound judgment.

²A fool takes no pleasure in understanding,

but only in expressing his opinion.

³When wickedness comes, contempt comes also,

and with dishonor comes disgrace.

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

the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.

⁵It is not good to be partial to the wicked

or to deprive the righteous of justice.

⁶A fool's lips walk into a fight,

and his mouth invites a beating.

⁷A fool's mouth is his ruin,

and his lips are a snare to his soul.

⁸The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels;

they go down into the inner parts of the body.

⁹Whoever is slack in his work

is a brother to him who destroys.

¹⁰The name of the Lord is a strong tower;

the righteous man runs into it and is safe.

¹¹A rich man's wealth is his strong city,

and like a high wall in his imagination.

¹²Before destruction a man's heart is haughty,

but humility comes before honor.

¹³If one gives an answer before he hears,

it is his folly and shame.

¹⁴A man's spirit will endure sickness,

but a crushed spirit who can bear?

¹⁵An intelligent heart acquires knowledge,

and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.

¹⁶A man's gift makes room for him

and brings him before the great.

¹⁷The one who states his case first seems right,

until the other comes and examines him.

¹⁸The lot puts an end to quarrels

and decides between powerful contenders.

¹⁹A brother offended is more unyielding than a strong city,

and quarreling is like the bars of a castle.

²⁰From the fruit of a man's mouth his stomach is satisfied;

he is satisfied by the yield of his lips.

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

and those who love it will eat its fruits.

²²He who finds a wife finds a good thing

and obtains favor from the Lord.

²³The poor use entreaties,

but the rich answer roughly.

²⁴A man of many companions may come to ruin,

but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.