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Proverbs 18
King James Version
Proverbs 18
King James Version
18 Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom.
2 A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.
3 When the wicked cometh, then cometh also contempt, and with ignominy reproach.
4 The words of a man's mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook.
5 It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment.
6 A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes.
7 A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.
8 The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
9 He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.
10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.
11 The rich man's wealth is his strong city, and as an high wall in his own conceit.
12 Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.
13 He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.
14 The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?
15 The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.
16 A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.
17 He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him.
18 The lot causeth contentions to cease, and parteth between the mighty.
19 A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.
20 A man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
22 Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the Lord.
23 The poor useth intreaties; but the rich answereth roughly.
24 A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
Proverbs 18
New International Version
Proverbs 18
New International Version
18 An unfriendly person pursues selfish ends
and against all sound judgment starts quarrels.
2 Fools find no pleasure in understanding
but delight in airing their own opinions.(A)
3 When wickedness comes, so does contempt,
and with shame comes reproach.
4 The words of the mouth are deep waters,(B)
but the fountain of wisdom is a rushing stream.
6 The lips of fools bring them strife,
and their mouths invite a beating.(E)
8 The words of a gossip are like choice morsels;
they go down to the inmost parts.(H)
9 One who is slack in his work
is brother to one who destroys.(I)
11 The wealth of the rich is their fortified city;(L)
they imagine it a wall too high to scale.
12 Before a downfall the heart is haughty,
but humility comes before honor.(M)
13 To answer before listening—
that is folly and shame.(N)
14 The human spirit can endure in sickness,
but a crushed spirit who can bear?(O)
15 The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge,(P)
for the ears of the wise seek it out.
16 A gift(Q) opens the way
and ushers the giver into the presence of the great.
17 In a lawsuit the first to speak seems right,
until someone comes forward and cross-examines.
18 Casting the lot settles disputes(R)
and keeps strong opponents apart.
19 A brother wronged(S) is more unyielding than a fortified city;
disputes are like the barred gates of a citadel.
20 From the fruit of their mouth a person’s stomach is filled;
with the harvest of their lips they are satisfied.(T)
23 The poor plead for mercy,
but the rich answer harshly.
24 One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin,
but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.(Y)
Proverbs 18
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Proverbs 18
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
18 The one who lives alone is self-indulgent,
showing contempt for all sound judgment.[a]
2 A fool takes no pleasure in understanding,
but only in expressing personal opinion.(A)
3 When wickedness comes, contempt comes also,
and with dishonor comes disgrace.
4 The words of the mouth are deep waters;
the fountain of wisdom is a gushing stream.(B)
5 It is not right to be partial to the guilty
or to subvert the innocent in judgment.(C)
6 A fool’s lips bring strife,
and a fool’s mouth invites a flogging.
7 The mouths of fools are their ruin,
and their lips a snare to themselves.(D)
8 The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels;
they go down into the inner parts of the body.(E)
9 One who is slack in work
is close kin to a vandal.(F)
10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower;
the righteous run into it and are safe.(G)
11 The wealth of the rich is their strong city;
in their imagination it is like a high wall.(H)
12 Before destruction one’s heart is haughty,
but humility goes before honor.(I)
13 If one gives answer before hearing,
it is folly and shame.(J)
14 The human spirit will endure sickness,
but a broken spirit—who can bear?
15 An intelligent mind acquires knowledge,
and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
16 A gift opens doors;
it gives access to the great.(K)
17 The one who first states a case seems right,
until the other comes and cross-examines.
18 Casting the lot puts an end to disputes
and decides between powerful contenders.(L)
19 An ally offended is stronger than a city;[b]
such quarreling is like the bars of a castle.
20 From the fruit of the mouth one’s stomach is satisfied;
the yield of the lips brings satisfaction.(M)
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
and those who love it will eat its fruits.(N)
22 He who finds a wife finds a good thing
and obtains favor from the Lord.(O)
23 The poor use entreaties,
but the rich answer roughly.(P)
24 Some[c] friends play at friendship,[d]
but a true friend sticks closer than one’s sibling.(Q)
Proverbs 18
New Century Version
Proverbs 18
New Century Version
18 Unfriendly people are selfish
and hate all good sense.
2 Fools do not want to understand anything.
They only want to tell others what they think.
3 Do something evil, and people won’t like you.
Do something shameful, and they will make fun of you.
4 Spoken words can be like deep water,
but wisdom is like a flowing stream.
5 It is not good to honor the wicked
or to be unfair to the innocent.
6 The words of fools start quarrels.
They make people want to beat them.
7 The words of fools will ruin them;
their own words will trap them.
8 The words of a gossip are like tasty bits of food.
People like to gobble them up.
9 A person who doesn’t work hard
is just like someone who destroys things.
10 The Lord is like a strong tower;
those who do right can run to him for safety.
11 Rich people trust their wealth to protect them.
They think it is like the high walls of a city.
12 Proud people will be ruined,
but the humble will be honored.
13 Anyone who answers without listening
is foolish and confused.
14 The will to live can get you through sickness,
but no one can live with a broken spirit.
15 The mind of a person with understanding gets knowledge;
the wise person listens to learn more.
16 Taking gifts to important people
will help get you in to see them.
17 The person who tells one side of a story seems right,
until someone else comes and asks questions.
18 Throwing lots can settle arguments
and keep the two sides from fighting.
19 A brother who has been insulted is harder to win back than a walled city,
and arguments separate people like the barred gates of a palace.
20 People will be rewarded for what they say;
they will be rewarded by how they speak.
21 What you say can mean life or death.
Those who speak with care will be rewarded.
22 When a man finds a wife, he finds something good.
It shows that the Lord is pleased with him.
23 The poor beg for mercy,
but the rich give rude answers.
24 Some friends may ruin you,
but a real friend will be more loyal than a brother.
Proverbs 18
Amplified Bible
Proverbs 18
Amplified Bible
Contrast the Upright and the Wicked
18 He who [willfully] separates himself [from God and man] seeks his own desire,
He quarrels against all sound wisdom.
2
A [closed-minded] fool does not delight in understanding,
But only in revealing his personal opinions [unwittingly displaying his self-indulgence and his stupidity].
3
When the wicked man comes [to the depth of evil], contempt [of all that is pure and good] also comes,
And with inner baseness (dishonor) comes outer shame (scorn).
4
The words of a man’s mouth are like deep waters [copious and difficult to fathom];
The fountain of [mature, godly] wisdom is like a bubbling stream [sparkling, fresh, pure, and life-giving].
5
To show respect to the wicked person is not good,
Nor to push aside and deprive the righteous of justice.
6
A fool’s lips bring contention and strife,
And his mouth invites a beating.
7
A fool’s mouth is his ruin,
And his lips are the snare of his soul.
8
The words of a whisperer (gossip) are like dainty morsels [to be greedily eaten];
They go down into the innermost chambers of the body [to be remembered and mused upon].
9
He who is careless in his work
Is a brother to him who destroys.
10
The name of the Lord is a strong tower;
The righteous runs to it and is safe and set on high [far above evil].
11
The rich man’s wealth is his strong city,
And like a high wall [of protection] in his own imagination and conceit.
12
Before disaster the heart of a man is haughty and filled with self-importance,
But humility comes before honor.
13
He who answers before he hears [the facts]—
It is folly and shame to him.(A)
14
The spirit of a man sustains him in sickness,
But as for a broken spirit, who can bear it?
15
The mind of the prudent [always] acquires knowledge,
And the ear of the wise [always] seeks knowledge.
16
A man’s gift [given in love or courtesy] makes room for him
And brings him before great men.(B)
17
The first one to plead his case seems right,
Until another comes and cross-examines him.
18
[a]To cast lots puts an end to quarrels
And decides between powerful contenders.
19
A brother offended is harder to win over than a fortified city,
And contentions [separating families] are like the bars of a castle.
20
A man’s stomach will be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth;
He will be satisfied with the consequence of his words.
21
Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
And those who love it and indulge it will eat its fruit and bear the consequences of their words.(C)
22
He who finds a [[b]true and faithful] wife finds a good thing
And obtains favor and approval from the Lord.(D)
23
The poor man pleads,
But the rich man answers roughly.
24
The man of too many friends [chosen indiscriminately] will be broken in pieces and come to ruin,
But there is a [true, loving] friend who [is reliable and] sticks closer than a brother.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 18:18 See note 16:33.
- Proverbs 18:22 In Jewish tradition it is said that in Israel, they used to ask a man who had married, “Matsa or motse?” “Matsa” is the Hebrew for “finds” here, where a good wife is in view, and “motse” is the word for “found” (NASB “discovered”) in Eccl 7:26.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition (NRSVUE)
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
New Century Version (NCV) 
The Holy Bible, New Century Version®. Copyright © 2005 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
Amplified Bible (AMP) 
Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631. All rights reserved.