18
1 A
man who isolates
himself pursues selfishness,
and defies all
sound judgment.
2 A
fool has no
delight in
understanding,
but only in
revealing his own
opinion.
3 When wickedness comes,
contempt also
comes,
and with shame
comes disgrace.
4 The
words of a
man’s mouth are
like deep waters.
The fountain of
wisdom is like
a flowing brook.
5 To
be partial to
the faces of
the wicked is
not good,
nor to deprive
the innocent of
justice.
6 A
fool’s lips come into
strife,
and his mouth
invites beatings.
7 A
fool’s mouth is
his destruction,
and his lips
are a snare
to his soul.
8 The
words of a
gossip are like
dainty morsels:
they go down
into a person’s
innermost parts.
9 One
who is slack
in his work
is brother to him
who is a
master of
destruction.
10 The
LORD’s name is
a strong tower:
the righteous run
to him, and
are safe.
11 The
rich man’s
wealth is his
strong city,
like an unscalable wall
in his own
imagination.
12 Before
destruction the
heart of man
is proud,
but before honor
is humility.
13 He
who answers before
he hears,
that is folly and
shame to him.
14 A
man’s spirit will
sustain him in
sickness,
but a crushed spirit,
who can bear?
15 The
heart of
the discerning gets
knowledge.
The ear of the
wise seeks
knowledge.
16 A
man’s gift makes
room for him,
and brings him
before great men.
17 He who
pleads his cause
first seems right—
until another comes and questions
him.
18 The
lot settles disputes,
and keeps strong
ones apart.
19 A brother
offended is more difficult than
a fortified city.
Disputes are like the
bars of a
fortress.
20 A man’s
stomach is filled
with the fruit
of his mouth.
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.
22 Whoever
finds a wife finds
a good thing,
and obtains favor
of the LORD.
23 The
poor plead for mercy,
but the rich
answer harshly.
24 A man
of many companions
may be ruined,
but there is
a friend who
sticks closer than
a brother.