18 He that separateth himself seeketh his own desire,
And ^[a]rageth against all sound wisdom.
² A fool hath no delight in understanding,
But only that his heart may reveal itself.
³ When the wicked cometh, there cometh also contempt,
And with ignominy cometh reproach.
⁴ The words of a man’s mouth are as deep waters;
^[b]The wellspring of wisdom is as a flowing brook.
⁵ To respect the person of the wicked is not good,
^[c]Nor to turn aside the righteous in judgment.
⁶ A fool’s lips ^[d]enter into contention,
And his mouth calleth for stripes.
⁷ A fool’s mouth is his destruction,
And his lips are the snare of his soul.
⁸ The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels,
And they go down into the innermost parts.
⁹ He also that is slack in his work
Is brother to him that is a destroyer.
¹⁰ The name of Jehovah is a strong tower;
The righteous runneth into it, and ^[e]is safe.
¹¹ The rich man’s wealth is his strong city,
And as a high wall in his own imagination.
¹² Before destruction the heart of man is haughty;
And before honor goeth humility.
¹³ He that giveth answer before he heareth,
It is folly and shame unto him.
¹⁴ The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity;
But a broken spirit who can ^[f]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 pleadeth his cause first seemeth just;
But his neighbor cometh and searcheth him out.
¹⁸ The lot causeth contentions to cease,
And parteth between the mighty.
¹⁹ A brother ^[g]offended is harder to be won than a strong city;
And such contentions are like the bars of a castle.
²⁰ A man’s belly shall be filled with the fruit of his mouth;
With the increase of his lips shall he be satisfied.
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 favor of Jehovah.
²³ The poor useth entreaties;
But the rich answereth roughly.
^24 [h]He that maketh many friends doeth it to his own destruction;
But there is a ^[i]friend that sticketh closer than a brother.