Proverbs 18

18One who isolates himself pursues selfish desires;

he rebels against all sound wisdom.

²A fool does not delight in understanding,

but only wants to show off his opinions.^Cm

³When a wicked person comes, contempt also comes,

and along with dishonor, derision.

⁴The words of a person’s mouth are deep waters,ⁿ

a flowing river, a fountain of wisdom.^D

⁵It is not good to show partiality to the guilty,^o

denying an innocent person justice.^p

⁶A fool’s lips lead to strife,

and his mouth provokes a beating.^q

⁷A fool’s mouth is his devastation,

and his lips are a trap for his life.^r

⁸A gossip’s words are like choice food

that goes down to one’s innermost being.^Es

⁹The one who is lazy in his work

is brother to a vandal.^Ft

¹⁰The name of the Lord is a strong tower;^u

the righteous run to it and are protected.^Gv

¹¹The wealth of the rich is his fortified city;

in his imagination it is like a high wall.^w

¹²Before his downfall a person’s heart is proud,^x

but humility comes before honor.^y

¹³The one who gives an answer before he listens—

this is foolishness and disgrace for him.^z

¹⁴A person’s spirit can endure sickness,

but who can survive a broken spirit?^aa

¹⁵The mind of the discerning acquires knowledge,

and the ear of the wise seeks it.^ab

¹⁶A person’s gift opens doors^A for him

and brings him before the great.^a

¹⁷The first to state his case seems right

until another comes and cross-examines him.^b

¹⁸Casting the lot^c ends quarrels

and separates powerful opponents.

¹⁹An offended brother is harder to reach^B

than a fortified city,

and quarrels are like the bars of a fortress.

²⁰From the fruit of a person’s mouth his stomach is satisfied;

he is filled with the product of his lips.^d

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

and those who love it will eat its fruit.^e

²²A man who finds a wife finds a good thing^f

and obtains favor from the Lord.^g

²³The poor person pleads,^h

but the rich one answers roughly.ⁱ

²⁴One with many friends may be harmed,^C

but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother.^j