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