Proverbs 18:1–24

¹One isolating himself will seek [his own] selfish longing; against all practical wisdom he will break forth.

²Anyone stupid finds no delight in discernment, except that his heart should uncover itself.

³When a wicked one comes in, contempt also must come in; and along with dishonor there is reproach.

⁴The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters. The well of wisdom is a torrent bubbling forth.

⁵The showing of partiality to the wicked one is not good, nor the turning aside of the righteous one in judgment.

⁶The lips of one who is stupid enter into quarreling, and his very mouth calls even for strokes.

⁷The mouth of the stupid one is the ruin of him, and his lips are a snare for his soul.

⁸The words of the slanderer are like things to be swallowed greedily, which do go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

⁹Also, the one showing himself slack in his work—he is a brother to the one causing ruin.

¹⁰The name of Jehovah is a strong tower. Into it the righteous runs and is given protection.

¹¹The valuable things of the rich are his strong town, and they are like a protective wall in his imagination.

¹²Before a crash the heart of a man is lofty, and before glory there is humility.

¹³When anyone is replying to a matter before he hears [it], that is foolishness on his part and a humiliation.

¹⁴The spirit of a man can put up with his malady; but as for a stricken spirit, who can bear it?

¹⁵The heart of the understanding one acquires knowledge, and the ear of wise ones seeks to find knowledge.

¹⁶A man’s gift will make a large opening for him, and it will lead him even before great people.

¹⁷The one first in his legal case is righteous; his fellow comes in and certainly searches him through.

¹⁸The lot puts even contentions to rest, and it separates even the mighty from one another.

¹⁹A brother who is transgressed against is more than a strong town; and there are contentions that are like the bar of a dwelling tower.

²⁰From the fruitage of a man’s mouth his belly will be satisfied; he will be satisfied even with the produce of his lips.

²¹Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and he that is loving it will eat its fruitage.

²²Has one found a [good] wife? One has found a good thing, and one gets goodwill from Jehovah.

²³Entreaties the one of little means speaks out, but one that is rich answers in a strong way.

²⁴There exist companions disposed to break one another to pieces, but there exists a friend sticking closer than a brother.