Proverbs 18

Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh

And ^bintermeddleth with all ^cwisdom.

²A fool hath no delight in understanding,

But ^dthat his heart may discover itself.

³When the wicked cometh, then cometh also contempt,

And with ignominy reproach.

^4eThe words of a man’s mouth are as ^fdeep waters,

And the wellspring of wisdom as ^ga flowing brook.

⁵It is not good to ^haccept the person of the wicked,

To ⁱoverthrow the righteous in judgment.

⁶A fool’s lips enter into contention,

And his mouth calleth for ^kstrokes.

^7lA fool’s mouth is his destruction,

And his lips are the snare of his soul.

^8mThe words of a talebearer are as wounds,

^mAnd they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

⁹He also that is slothful in his work

Is ⁿbrother to him that is a ^ogreat waster.

¹⁰The name of the Lord is ^pa strong tower:

The righteous runneth into it, and is safe.

^11qThe rich man’s wealth is his strong city,

And as a high wall in his own ^rconceit.

^12sBefore destruction the heart of man is haughty,

And ^tbefore honour is humility.

¹³He that answereth a matter ^ubefore he heareth it,

It is folly and shame unto him.

¹⁴The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity;

But ^xa wounded spirit who can bear?

¹⁵The heart of the prudent ^ygetteth knowledge;

And the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.

^16zA man’s gift maketh room for him,

And bringeth him before great men.

¹⁷He that is first in his own cause seemeth just;

But ^ahis neighbour cometh and searcheth him.

¹⁸The lot causeth contentions to cease,

And parteth between the mighty.

¹⁹A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city:

And their contentions are like the bars of a ^bcastle.

^20cA man’s belly shall be satisfied with ^cthe fruit of his mouth;

And with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.

^21dDeath and life are in the power of the tongue:

And they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

^22eWhoso findeth a wife findeth a ^fgood thing,

And ^gobtaineth favour ^hof the Lord.

²³The poor useth intreaties;

But ⁱthe rich answereth roughly.

²⁴A man that hath friends must ^jshew himself friendly:

And ^kthere is ^la friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

XIX.