Proverbs 17:18–21

18 One who has no sense shakes hands in pledge

and puts up security for a neighbor.

19 Whoever loves a quarrel loves sin;

whoever builds a high gate invites destruction.

20 One whose heart is corrupt does not prosper;

one whose tongue is perverse falls into trouble.

21 To have a fool for a child brings grief;

there is no joy for the parent of a godless fool.

18 A man void of understanding striketh hands,

And becometh surety in the presence of his friend.

19 He loveth transgression that loveth strife:

And he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.

20 He that hath a froward heart findeth no good:

And he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.

21 He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow:

And the father of a fool hath no joy.

18 It’s poor judgment to guarantee another person’s debt

or put up security for a friend.

19 Anyone who loves to quarrel loves sin;

anyone who trusts in high walls invites disaster.

20 The crooked heart will not prosper;

the lying tongue tumbles into trouble.

21 It is painful to be the parent of a fool;

there is no joy for the father of a rebel.

18 A man devoid of understanding shakes hands in a pledge,

And becomes surety for his friend.

19 He who loves transgression loves strife,

And he who exalts his gate seeks destruction.

20 He who has a deceitful heart finds no good,

And he who has a perverse tongue falls into evil.

21 He who begets a scoffer does so to his sorrow,

And the father of a fool has no joy.

18 It is not wise to promise

to pay what your neighbor owes.

19 Whoever loves to argue loves to sin.

Whoever brags a lot is asking for trouble.

20 A person with an evil heart will find no success,

and the person whose words are evil will get into trouble.

21 It is sad to have a foolish child;

there is no joy in being the parent of a fool.

18 A man void of understanding striketh hands,

And becometh surety in the presence of his neighbor.

19 He loveth transgression that loveth strife:

He that raiseth high his gate seeketh destruction.

20 He that hath a wayward heart findeth no good;

And he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.

21 He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow;

And the father of a fool hath no joy.

18 A senseless man striketh hands, becoming surety for his neighbour.

19 He loveth transgression that loveth a quarrel; he that maketh high his gate seeketh destruction.

20 He that hath a perverse heart findeth no good; and he that shifteth about with his tongue falleth into evil.

21 He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow, and the father of a vile man hath no joy.

18 A person without good sense closes a deal with a handshake. 

He guarantees a loan in the presence of his friend. 

19 Whoever loves sin loves a quarrel. 

Whoever builds his city gate high invites destruction. 

20 A twisted mind never finds happiness, 

and one with a devious tongue ⸤repeatedly⸥ gets into trouble. 

21 The parent of a fool has grief, 

and the father of a godless fool has no joy. 

18 One without sense enters an agreement

and puts up security for his friend.

19 One who loves to offend loves strife;

one who builds a high threshold invites injury.

20 One with a twisted mind will not succeed,

and one with deceitful speech will fall into ruin.

21 A man fathers a fool to his own sorrow;

the father of a fool has no joy.

18 It is senseless to give a pledge,

to become surety for a neighbor.

19 One who loves transgression loves strife;

one who builds a high threshold invites broken bones.

20 The crooked of mind do not prosper,

and the perverse of tongue fall into calamity.

21 The one who fathers a fool gets trouble;

the parent of a fool has no joy.

18 A person who lacks sense pledges;

he becomes security before his neighbor.

19 He who loves transgression loves strife;

he who builds his high thresholds seeks destruction.

20 He who is crooked of heart will not find goodness,

and he who is perverse, by his tongue he will fall into calamity.

21 He who begets a fool, there is trouble for him;

the father of a fool will not rejoice.

18 A man who has little sense agrees to pay what other people owe.

It isn’t wise to put up money for others.

19 The one who loves to argue loves to sin.

The one who builds a high gate is just asking to be destroyed.

20 If your heart is twisted, you won’t succeed.

If your tongue tells lies, you will get into trouble.

21 It is sad to have a foolish child.

The parents of a foolish person have no joy.

18 A man lacking in sense pledges

And becomes guarantor in the presence of his neighbor.

19 He who loves transgression loves strife;

He who raises his door seeks destruction.

20 He who has a crooked mind finds no good,

And he who is perverted in his language falls into evil.

21 He who sires a fool does so to his sorrow,

And the father of a fool has no joy.