Proverbs 18:7–16
7 eA fool’s mouth is his ruin,
and his lips are a snare to his soul.
8 fThe words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels;
they go down into gthe inner parts of the body.
9 Whoever is slack in his work
is a hbrother to him who destroys.
10 iThe name of the Lord is ja strong tower;
the righteous man runs into it and kis safe.
11 lA rich man’s wealth is his strong city,
and like a high wall in his imagination.
12 mBefore destruction a man’s heart is haughty,
but nhumility comes before honor.
13 If one gives an answer obefore he hears,
it is his folly and shame.
14 A man’s spirit will endure sickness,
but pa crushed spirit who can bear?
15 An intelligent heart acquires knowledge,
and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
16 A man’s qgift makes room for him
and brings him before the great.
Proverbs 18:7–16 — The New International Version (NIV)
7 The mouths of fools are their undoing,
and their lips are a snare to their very lives.
8 The words of a gossip are like choice morsels;
they go down to the inmost parts.
9 One who is slack in his work
is brother to one who destroys.
10 The name of the Lord is a fortified tower;
the righteous run to it and are safe.
11 The wealth of the rich is their fortified city;
they imagine it a wall too high to scale.
12 Before a downfall the heart is haughty,
but humility comes before honor.
13 To answer before listening—
that is folly and shame.
14 The human spirit can endure in sickness,
but a crushed spirit who can bear?
15 The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge,
for the ears of the wise seek it out.
16 A gift opens the way
and ushers the giver into the presence of the great.
Proverbs 18:7–16 — King James Version (KJV 1900)
7 A fool’s mouth is his destruction,
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.
9 He also that is slothful in his work
Is brother to him that is a great waster.
10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower:
The righteous runneth into it, and is safe.
11 The rich man’s wealth is his strong city,
And as an high wall in his own conceit.
12 Before destruction the heart of man is haughty,
And before honour is humility.
13 He that answereth a matter before he heareth it,
It is folly and shame unto him.
14 The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity;
But a wounded spirit who can bear?
15 The heart of the prudent 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.
Proverbs 18:7–16 — New Living Translation (NLT)
7 The mouths of fools are their ruin;
they trap themselves with their lips.
8 Rumors are dainty morsels
that sink deep into one’s heart.
9 A lazy person is as bad as
someone who destroys things.
10 The name of the Lord is a strong fortress;
the godly run to him and are safe.
11 The rich think of their wealth as a strong defense;
they imagine it to be a high wall of safety.
12 Haughtiness goes before destruction;
humility precedes honor.
13 Spouting off before listening to the facts
is both shameful and foolish.
14 The human spirit can endure a sick body,
but who can bear a crushed spirit?
15 Intelligent people are always ready to learn.
Their ears are open for knowledge.
16 Giving a gift can open doors;
it gives access to important people!
Proverbs 18:7–16 — The New King James Version (NKJV)
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.
Proverbs 18:7–16 — New Century Version (NCV)
7 The words of fools will ruin them;
their own words will trap them.
8 The words of a gossip are like tasty bits of food.
People like to gobble them up.
9 A person who doesn’t work hard
is just like someone who destroys things.
10 The Lord is like a strong tower;
those who do right can run to him for safety.
11 Rich people trust their wealth to protect them.
They think it is like the high walls of a city.
12 Proud people will be ruined,
but the humble will be honored.
13 Anyone who answers without listening
is foolish and confused.
14 The will to live can get you through sickness,
but no one can live with a broken spirit.
15 The mind of a person with understanding gets knowledge;
the wise person listens to learn more.
16 Taking gifts to important people
will help get you in to see them.
Proverbs 18:7–16 — American Standard Version (ASV)
7 A fool’s mouth is his destruction,
And his lips are the snare of his soul.
8 The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels,
And they go down into the innermost parts.
9 He also that is slack in his work
Is brother to him that is a destroyer.
10 The name of Jehovah is a strong tower;
The righteous runneth into it, and is safe.
11 The rich man’s wealth is his strong city,
And as a high wall in his own imagination.
12 Before destruction the heart of man is haughty;
And before honor goeth humility.
13 He that giveth answer before he heareth,
It is folly and shame unto him.
14 The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity;
But a broken spirit who can bear?
15 The heart of the prudent 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.
Proverbs 18:7–16 — 1890 Darby Bible (DARBY)
7 A fool’s mouth is destruction to him, and his lips are a snare to his soul.
8 The words of a talebearer are as dainty morsels, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
9 He also who is indolent in his work is brother of the destroyer.
10 The name of Jehovah is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.
11 The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, and as a high wall in his own imagination.
12 Before destruction the heart of man is haughty; and before honour goeth humility.
13 He that giveth answer before he heareth, it is folly and shame unto him.
14 The spirit of a man sustaineth his infirmity; but a broken spirit who can bear?
15 The heart of an intelligent man 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.
Proverbs 18:7–16 — GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)
7 A fool’s mouth is his ruin.
His lips are a trap to his soul.
8 The words of a gossip are swallowed greedily,
and they go down into a person’s innermost being.
9 Whoever is lazy in his work is related to a vandal.
10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower.
A righteous person runs to it and is safe.
11 A rich person’s wealth is his strong city
and is like a high wall in his imagination.
12 Before destruction a person’s heart is arrogant,
but humility comes before honor.
13 Whoever gives an answer before he listens is stupid and shameful.
14 A person’s spirit can endure sickness,
but who can bear a broken spirit?
15 The mind of a person who has understanding acquires knowledge.
The ears of wise people seek knowledge.
16 A gift opens doors for the one who gives it
and brings him into the presence of great people.
Proverbs 18:7–16 — The Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
7 A fool’s mouth is his devastation,
and his lips are a trap for his life.
8 A gossip’s words are like choice food
that goes down to one’s innermost being.
9 The one who is truly lazy in his work
is brother to a vandal.
10 The name of Yahweh is a strong tower;
the righteous run to it and are protected.
11 A rich man’s wealth is his fortified city;
in his imagination it is like a high wall.
12 Before his downfall a man’s heart is proud,
but humility comes before honor.
13 The one who gives an answer before he listens—
this is foolishness and disgrace for him.
14 A man’s spirit can endure sickness,
but who can survive a broken spirit?
15 The mind of the discerning acquires knowledge,
and the ear of the wise seeks it.
16 A gift opens doors for a man
and brings him before the great.
Proverbs 18:7–16 — The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
7 The mouths of fools are their ruin,
and their lips a snare to themselves.
8 The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels;
they go down into the inner parts of the body.
9 One who is slack in work
is close kin to a vandal.
10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower;
the righteous run into it and are safe.
11 The wealth of the rich is their strong city;
in their imagination it is like a high wall.
12 Before destruction one’s heart is haughty,
but humility goes before honor.
13 If one gives answer before hearing,
it is folly and shame.
14 The human spirit will endure sickness;
but a broken spirit—who can bear?
15 An intelligent mind acquires knowledge,
and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
16 A gift opens doors;
it gives access to the great.
Proverbs 18:7–16 — The Lexham English Bible (LEB)
7 The mouth of a fool is ruin to him,
and his lips are a snare to his soul.
8 The words of a whisper are like delicious morsels,
and they themselves go down to inner parts of the body.
9 Even he who is slack in his work,
he is brother to a master of destruction.
10 A tower of strength is the name of Yahweh;
into him the righteous will run and be safe.
11 The wealth of the rich is his strong city,
and like a wall, it is high in his imagination.
12 In the presence of destruction, the heart of a man will be haughty,
but in the presence of honor, humble.
13 He who returns a word before he will hear,
folly itself belongs to him as well as shame.
14 The spirit of a man will endure his sickness,
but a broken spirit, who may bear it?
15 An intelligent mind will acquire knowledge,
and the ear of the wise will seek knowledge.
16 The gift of a person will open doors for him,
and before the great, it gives him access.
Proverbs 18:7–16 — New International Reader’s Version (1998) (NIrV)
7 The words of a foolish person drag him down.
He is trapped by what he says.
8 The words of anyone who talks about others are like tasty bites of food.
They go deep down inside you.
9 Anyone who doesn’t want to work
is like someone who destroys.
10 The name of the Lord is like a strong tower.
Godly people run to it and are safe.
11 The wealth of rich people is like a city that makes them feel safe.
They think of it as a city with walls that can’t be climbed.
12 If a man’s heart is proud, he will be destroyed.
So don’t be proud if you want to be honored.
13 To answer before listening
is foolish and shameful.
14 A man’s cheerful heart gives him strength when he is sick.
You can’t keep going if you have a broken spirit.
15 Those whose hearts understand what is right get knowledge.
The ears of those who are wise listen for it.
16 A gift opens the way for the one who gives it.
It helps him meet important people.
Proverbs 18:7–16 — New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (NASB95)
7 A fool’s mouth is his ruin,
And his lips are the snare of his soul.
8 The words of a whisperer are like dainty morsels,
And they go down into the innermost parts of the body.
9 He also who is slack in his work
Is brother to him who destroys.
10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower;
The righteous runs into it and is safe.
11 A rich man’s wealth is his strong city,
And like a high wall in his own imagination.
12 Before destruction the heart of man is haughty,
But humility goes before honor.
13 He who gives an answer before he hears,
It is folly and shame to him.
14 The spirit of a man can endure his sickness,
But as for a broken spirit who can bear it?
15 The mind 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.