Proverbs 18

¹Whoever has a will to withdraw from a friend, seeks occasions; he shall be reproached at all times.

²The foolish do not accept words of prudence, unless you say what is already turning in his heart.

³The impious, when he has arrived within the depths of sin, thinks little of it. But ill repute and disgrace follow him.

⁴Words from the mouth of a man are deep waters. And the fountain of wisdom is a torrent overflowing.

⁵It is not good to accept the character of the impious, so as to turn away from true judgment.

⁶The lips of the foolish meddle in disputes. And his mouth provokes conflicts.

⁷The mouth of the foolish is his destruction, and his own lips are the ruin of his soul.

⁸The words of the double-tongued seem simple. And they reach even to the interior of the gut. Fear casts down the lazy, but the souls of the effeminate shall go hungry.

⁹Whoever is dissolute and slack in his work is the brother of him who wastes his own works.

¹⁰The name of the Lord is a very strong tower. The just one rushes to it, and he shall be exalted.

¹¹The substance of the wealthy is the city of his strength, and it is like a strong wall encircling him.

¹²The heart of a man is exalted before it is crushed and humbled before it is glorified.

¹³Whoever responds before he listens, demonstrates himself to be foolish and deserving of confusion.

¹⁴The spirit of a man sustains his weakness. Yet who can sustain a spirit that is easily angered?

¹⁵A prudent heart shall possess knowledge. And the ear of the wise seeks doctrine.

¹⁶A man’s gift expands his way and makes space for him before leaders.

¹⁷The just is the first accuser of himself; his friend arrives and shall investigate him.

¹⁸Casting a lot suppresses contentions and passes judgment, even among the powerful.

¹⁹A brother who is helped by a brother is like a reinforced city, and judgments are like the bars of cities.

²⁰From the fruit of a man’s mouth shall his belly be filled. And the harvest of his own lips shall satisfy him.

²¹Death and life are in the power of the tongue. Whoever values it shall eat from its fruits.

²²He who has found a good wife has found goodness, and he shall draw contentment from the Lord. He who expels a good wife expels goodness. But he who holds on to an adulteress is foolish and impious.

²³The poor will speak with supplications. And the rich will express themselves roughly.

²⁴A man amiable to society shall be more friendly than a brother.

Proverbs 18

¹He that hath a mind to depart from a friend, seeketh occasions: he shall ever be subject to reproach.

²A fool receiveth not the words of prudence: unless thou say those things which are in his heart.

³The wicked man, when he is come into the depths of sins, contemneth: but ignominy and reproach follow him.

⁴Words from the mouth of a man are as deep water: and the fountain of wisdom is an overflowing stream.

⁵It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to decline from the truth of judgment.

⁶The lips of a fool intermeddle with strife: and his mouth provoketh quarrels.

⁷The mouth of a fool is his destruction: and his lips are the ruin of his soul.

⁸The words of the double tongued are as if they were harmless: and they reach even to the inner parts of the bowels. Fear casteth down the slothful: and the souls of the effeminate shall be hungry.

⁹He that is loose and slack in his work, is the brother of him that wasteth his own works.

¹⁰The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the just runneth to it, and shall be exalted.

¹¹The substance of the rich man is the city of his strength, and as a strong wall compassing him about.

¹²Before destruction, the heart of a man is exalted: and before he be glorified, it is humbled.

¹³He that answereth before he heareth, sheweth himself to be a fool, and worthy of confusion.

¹⁴The spirit of a man upholdeth his infirmity: but a spirit that is easily angered, who can bear?

¹⁵A wise heart shall acquire knowledge: and the ear of the wise seeketh instruction.

¹⁶A man's gift enlargeth his way, and maketh him room before princes.

¹⁷The just is first accuser of himself: his friend cometh, and shall search him.

¹⁸The lot suppresseth contentions, and determineth even between the mighty.

¹⁹A brother that is helped by his brother, is like a strong city: and judgments are like the bars of cities.

²⁰Of the fruit of a man's mouth shall his belly be satisfied: and the offspring of his lips shall fill him.

²¹Death and life are in the power of the tongue: they that love it, shall eat the fruits thereof.

²²He that hath found a good wife, hath found a good thing, and shall receive a pleasure from the Lord. He that driveth away a good wife, driveth away a good thing: but he that keepeth an adulteress, is foolish and wicked.

²³The poor will speak with supplications, and the rich will speak roughly.

²⁴A man amiable in society, shall be more friendly than a brother.