Contrast of the Upright and the Wicked
He [a]quarrels against all sound wisdom.
2 A fool does not delight in understanding,
But in revealing his own [b]mind.
3 When a wicked person comes, contempt also comes,
And with dishonor comes taunting.
4 The words of a person’s mouth are deep waters;
[c]The fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.
5 To show partiality to the wicked is not good,
Nor to suppress the righteous in judgment.
6 A fool’s lips [d]bring strife,
And his mouth invites beatings.
7 A fool’s mouth is his ruin,
And his lips are the snare of his soul.
8 The words of a gossiper are like dainty morsels,
And they go down into the [e]innermost parts of the body.
9 He also who is lax in his work
Is a brother to him who destroys.
10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower;
The righteous runs into it and is [f]safe.
11 A rich person’s wealth is his strong city,
And like a high wall in his own imagination.
12 Before destruction the heart of a person is haughty,
But humility goes before honor.
13 One who gives an answer before he hears,
It is foolishness and shame to him.
14 The spirit of a person can endure his sickness,
But as for a broken spirit, who can endure it?
15 The [g]mind of the discerning acquires knowledge,
And the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
16 A person’s gift makes room for him
And brings him before great people.
17 The first [h]to plead his case seems right,
Until [i]another comes and examines him.
18 The cast lot puts an end to quarrels,
And [j]decides between the mighty ones.
19 A brother who is offended is harder to be won than a strong city,
And quarrels are like the bars of a citadel.
20 With the [k]fruit of a person’s mouth his stomach will be satisfied;
He will be satisfied with the product of his lips.
21 Death and life are in the [l]power of the tongue,
And those who love it will eat its fruit.
22 He who finds a wife finds a good thing
And obtains favor from the Lord.
23 A poor person utters pleadings,
But a rich person answers defiantly.
24 A person of too many friends comes to [m]ruin,
But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 18:1 Lit breaks out
- Proverbs 18:2 Lit heart
- Proverbs 18:4 Or A bubbling brook, a fountain of wisdom
- Proverbs 18:6 Lit come with
- Proverbs 18:8 Lit chambers of the belly
- Proverbs 18:10 Lit set on high
- Proverbs 18:15 Lit heart
- Proverbs 18:17 Lit in his plea
- Proverbs 18:17 Lit his neighbor
- Proverbs 18:18 Lit makes a division
- Proverbs 18:20 I.e., speech
- Proverbs 18:21 Lit hand
- Proverbs 18:24 Lit be broken in pieces