18 He who is selfish seeks a craving;^[a]
    against all sound judgment he shows contempt.
² A fool will not take pleasure in understanding,
    but in expressing his heart.^[b]
3 With the coming of wickedness comes contempt also,
    and with dishonor, disgrace.
⁴ Deep waters are words of the mouth of a man;
    a gushing stream is a fountain of wisdom.
⁵ Being partial to faces of evil is not good,
    nor to subvert the righteous at the judgment.
⁶ The lips of a fool will bring strife,
    and his mouth calls out for a flogging.
⁷ The mouth of a fool is ruin to him,
    and his lips are a snare to his soul.^[c]
8 The words of a whisper are like delicious morsels,
    and they themselves go down to inner parts of the body.
⁹ Even he who is slack in his work,
    he is brother to a master^[d] of destruction.
¹⁰ A tower of strength is the name of Yahweh;
    into him^[e] the righteous will run and be safe.
¹¹ The wealth of the rich is his strong city,^[f]
    and like a wall, it is high in his imagination.
¹² In the presence of destruction, the heart^[g] of a man will be haughty,
    but in the presence of honor, humble.
¹³ He who returns a word before he will hear,
    folly itself belongs to him as well as^[h] shame.
¹⁴ The spirit of a man will endure his sickness,
    but a broken spirit, who may bear it?
¹⁵ An intelligent mind^[i] will acquire knowledge,
    and the ear of the wise will seek knowledge.
¹⁶ The gift of a person will open doors for him,
    and before the great, it gives him access.
¹⁷ The first in his dispute is deemed righteous,
    but his neighbor will come and examine him.
¹⁸ The lot will put an end to disputes,
    and between powerful contenders it will decide.
¹⁹ A brother who is offended is worse than a city of strength,
    and quarrels are like the bars of a fortification.
²⁰ From the fruit of a man’s mouth, his stomach will be satisfied,
    as for the yield of his lips, it will satisfy.
²¹ Death and life are in the power^[j] of the tongue,
    and those who love her^[k] will eat of her fruit.
²² He who finds a wife^[l] finds good,
    and he will obtain favor from Yahweh.
²³ The poor may speak entreaties,
    but the rich will answer roughly.
²⁴ A man of many friends will come to ruin,
    but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.