Contrast the Upright and the Wicked

18 He who separates himself seeks his own desire,
He [a](A)quarrels against all sound wisdom.
A fool does not delight in understanding,
But only (B)in revealing his own [b]mind.
When a wicked man comes, contempt also comes,
And with dishonor comes scorn.
The words of a man’s mouth are (C)deep waters;
[c]The fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.
To (D)show partiality to the wicked is not good,
Nor to (E)thrust aside the righteous in judgment.
A fool’s lips [d]bring strife,
And his mouth calls for (F)blows.
A (G)fool’s mouth is his ruin,
And his lips are the snare of his soul.
The words of a whisperer are like dainty morsels,
And they go down into the [e]innermost parts of the body.
He also who is (H)slack in his work
(I)Is brother to him who destroys.
10 The (J)name of the Lord is a (K)strong tower;
The righteous runs into it and (L)is [f]safe.
11 A (M)rich man’s wealth is his strong city,
And like a high wall in his own imagination.
12 (N)Before destruction the heart of man is haughty,
But (O)humility goes before honor.
13 He who (P)gives an answer before he hears,
It is folly and shame to him.
14 The (Q)spirit of a man can endure his sickness,
But as for a (R)broken spirit who can bear it?
15 The [g](S)mind of the prudent acquires knowledge,
And the (T)ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
16 A man’s (U)gift makes room for him
And brings him before great men.
17 The first [h]to plead his case seems right,
Until [i]another comes and examines him.
18 The cast (V)lot puts an end to strife
And [j]decides between the mighty ones.
19 A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city,
And contentions are like the bars of a citadel.
20 With the [k](W)fruit of a man’s mouth his stomach will be satisfied;
(X)He will be satisfied with the product of his lips.
21 (Y)Death and life are in the [l]power of the tongue,
And those who love it will eat its (Z)fruit.
22 He who finds a (AA)wife finds a good thing
And (AB)obtains favor from the Lord.
23 The (AC)poor man utters supplications,
But the (AD)rich man (AE)answers roughly.
24 A man of too many friends comes to [m]ruin,
But there is (AF)a [n]friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 18:1 Lit breaks out
  2. Proverbs 18:2 Lit heart
  3. Proverbs 18:4 Or A bubbling brook, a fountain of wisdom
  4. Proverbs 18:6 Lit come with
  5. Proverbs 18:8 Lit chambers of the belly
  6. Proverbs 18:10 Lit set on high
  7. Proverbs 18:15 Lit heart
  8. Proverbs 18:17 Lit in his plea
  9. Proverbs 18:17 Lit his neighbor
  10. Proverbs 18:18 Lit makes a division
  11. Proverbs 18:20 I.e. speech
  12. Proverbs 18:21 Lit hand
  13. Proverbs 18:24 Lit be broken in pieces
  14. Proverbs 18:24 Or lover

18 A különc a maga kívánsága után jár, és hadakozik minden jóravaló dolog ellen.

Az ostoba nem leli kedvét az értelemben, csak saját eszének a fitogtatásában.

Ahová bűnös érkezik, oda megérkezik a megvetés is, és a szégyentelenséggel együtt jár a gyalázat.

Mély víz az ember szájának a beszéde, áradó patak, bölcsesség forrása.

Nem jó a bűnösnek kedvezni, sem jogaiból kiforgatni az igaz embert.

Az ostoba ajka perpatvart okoz, és szája vereséget idéz elő.

Az ostobának saját szája a romlása, és ajka önmagának a csapdája.

A rágalmazó szavai, mint a jó falatok, behatolnak a test belsejébe.

Aki munkájában hanyag, az testvére annak, aki tönkretesz.

10 Erős torony az Úr neve, oda fut az igaz, és védelmet talál.

11 A gazdagnak a vagyon az erős városa, magas várfalnak képzeli.

12 Akire romlás vár, annak fölfuvalkodik a szíve, de akire dicsőség, az alázatos.

13 Aki arra felel, amit meg sem hallgatott, azt bolondnak tartják, és megpirongatják.

14 Az ember lelke elviseli a szenvedést, de ha a lélek összetörik, azt el lehet-e hordozni?

15 Az értelmes ember szíve ismeretet szerez, és a bölcsek füle ismeretre törekszik.

16 Az ajándék tág teret nyit az ember előtt, és az előkelők elé juttatja.

17 Igaznak látszik az, aki először szól a perben, de sorra kerül ellenfele is, és megcáfolja.

18 A sorsvetés megszünteti a viszálykodást, és szétválasztja az erőszakosakat.

19 A rászedett testvér hozzáférhetetlenebb az erős városnál, és a viszály olyan, mint egy váron a zár.

20 Amit mond az ember, annak a gyümölcséből fog jóllakni a teste, és amit a beszéde terem, azzal kell jóllaknia.

21 Élet és halál van a nyelv hatalmában, amelyiket szereti az ember, annak a gyümölcsét eszi.

22 Aki jó feleséget talált, kincset talált, és elnyerte az Úr jóakaratát.

23 Könyörögve szól a szegény, de a gazdag keményen válaszol.

24 Van ember, aki bajba juttatja embertársait, de van olyan barát, aki ragaszkodóbb a testvérnél.

18 An unfriendly person pursues selfish ends
    and against all sound judgment starts quarrels.

Fools find no pleasure in understanding
    but delight in airing their own opinions.(A)

When wickedness comes, so does contempt,
    and with shame comes reproach.

The words of the mouth are deep waters,(B)
    but the fountain of wisdom is a rushing stream.

It is not good to be partial to the wicked(C)
    and so deprive the innocent of justice.(D)

The lips of fools bring them strife,
    and their mouths invite a beating.(E)

The mouths of fools are their undoing,
    and their lips are a snare(F) to their very lives.(G)

The words of a gossip are like choice morsels;
    they go down to the inmost parts.(H)

One who is slack in his work
    is brother to one who destroys.(I)

10 The name of the Lord is a fortified tower;(J)
    the righteous run to it and are safe.(K)

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)

21 The tongue has the power of life and death,(U)
    and those who love it will eat its fruit.(V)

22 He who finds a wife finds what is good(W)
    and receives favor from the Lord.(X)

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)