Chapter 18

Contrast the Upright and the Wicked

1 He who separates himself seeks his own desire,

He 1aquarrels against all sound wisdom.

2 A fool does not delight in understanding,

But only ain revealing his own 1mind.

3 When a wicked man comes, contempt also comes,

And with dishonor comes scorn.

4 The words of a man’s mouth are adeep waters;

1The fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.

5 To ashow partiality to the wicked is not good,

Nor to bthrust aside the righteous in judgment.

6 A fool’s lips 1bring strife,

And his mouth calls for ablows.

7 A afool’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 1innermost parts of the body.

9 He also who is aslack in his work

bIs brother to him who destroys.

10 The aname of the Lord is a bstrong tower;

The righteous runs into it and cis 1safe.

11 A arich man’s wealth is his strong city,

And like a high wall in his own imagination.

12 aBefore destruction the heart of man is haughty,

But bhumility goes before honor.

13 He who agives an answer before he hears,

It is folly and shame to him.

14 The aspirit of a man can endure his sickness,

But as for a bbroken spirit who can bear it?

15 The 1amind of the prudent acquires knowledge,

And the bear of the wise seeks knowledge.

16 A man’s agift makes room for him

And brings him before great men.

17 The first 1to plead his case seems right,

Until 2another comes and examines him.

18 The cast alot puts an end to strife

And 1decides between the mighty ones.

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

And contentions are like the bars of a citadel.

20 With the 1afruit of a man’s mouth his stomach will be satisfied;

bHe will be satisfied with the product of his lips.

21 aDeath and life are in the 1power of the tongue,

And those who love it will eat its bfruit.

22 He who finds a awife finds a good thing

And bobtains favor from the Lord.

23 The apoor man utters supplications,

But the brich man canswers roughly.

24 A man of too many friends comes to 1ruin,

But there is aa 2friend who sticks closer than a brother.