Old Testament · Proverbs

Proverbs 18

The Selfishness of the Unfriendly

1One who separates himself seeks his own desire; against all sound wisdom he breaks out.
2A fool does not delight in understanding, but only in the uncovering of his heart.
3When a wicked one comes, comes also contempt; and with dishonor, reproach.
4The words of a man's^a mouth are deep waters; a flowing stream, a fountain of wisdom.
5To lift up the face of a wicked one is not good, to turn aside a righteous one in judgment^b.
6The lips of a fool enter into contention, and his mouth calls for blows.
7A fool's mouth is his ruin, and his lips are the snare of his soul^c.
8The words of a whisperer are like dainty morsels, and they go down into the chambers of the belly.
9Also one who is slack in his work, he is a brother to a master of destruction.
10The name of the LORD is a strong tower; into it the righteous runs and is set on high.
11The wealth of a rich one is his strong city, and like a high wall in his own imagination.
12Before destruction the heart of a man is haughty, and before honor is humility.
13One who returns a word before he hears, it is folly to him and shame.
14The spirit^d of a man sustains his infirmity, but a broken spirit, who can bear it?
15The heart of the understanding one gets knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
16A man's^e gift makes room for him, and before great ones it leads him.
17The first in his dispute seems righteous, but his neighbor comes and searches him out.
18The lot causes contentions to cease, and between the mighty it separates.
19A brother offended is more than a strong city, and contentions are like the bar of a fortress.
20From the fruit of a man's mouth his belly is satisfied; with the produce of his lips he is satisfied.
21Death and life^f are in the hand of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
22One who finds a wife^g finds good, and obtains favor from the LORD.
23Supplications the poor speaks, but a rich one answers harshly.
24A man of companions may come to ruin, but there is a lover who clings closer than a brother.