Proverbs - Chapter 18

¹ A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire; He rages against all wise judgment.

² A fool has no delight in understanding, But in expressing his own heart.

³ When the wicked comes, contempt comes also; And with dishonor [comes] reproach.

⁴ The words of a man's mouth [are] deep waters; The wellspring of wisdom [is] a flowing brook.

⁵ [It is] not good to show partiality to the wicked, [Or] to overthrow the righteous in judgment.

⁶ A fool's lips enter into contention, And his mouth calls for blows.

⁷ A fool's mouth [is] his destruction, And his lips [are] the snare of his soul.

⁸ The words of a talebearer [are] like tasty trifles, And they go down into the inmost body.

⁹ He who is slothful in his work Is a brother to him who is a great destroyer.

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

¹¹ The rich man's wealth [is] his strong city, And like a high wall in his own esteem.

¹² Before destruction the heart of a man is haughty, And before honor [is] humility.

¹³ He who answers a matter before he hears [it,] It [is] folly and shame to him.

¹⁴ The spirit of a man will sustain him in sickness, But who can bear a broken spirit?

¹⁵ The heart of the prudent acquires knowledge, And the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.

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

¹⁷ The first [one] to plead his cause [seems] right, Until his neighbor comes and examines him.

¹⁸ Casting lots causes contentions to cease, And keeps the mighty apart.

¹⁹ A brother offended [is harder to win] than a strong city, And contentions [are] like the bars of a castle.

²⁰ A man's stomach shall be satisfied from the fruit of his mouth, [From] the produce of his lips he shall be filled.

²¹ Death and life [are] in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.

²² [He who] finds a wife finds a good [thing,] And obtains favor from the LORD.

²³ The poor [man] uses entreaties, But the rich answers roughly.

²⁴ A man [who has] friends must himself be friendly, But there is a friend [who] sticks closer than a brother.