18 Enslingen följer sin egen lust,
mot all sund insikt går han till storms.

Dåren frågar inte efter förstånd,
    han vill bara föra fram egna tankar.

Kommer en ogudaktig kommer också förakt,
med skamlig vandel följer vanära.

Orden i mannens mun är som djupa vatten,
vishetens källa som en flödande bäck.

Det är inte rätt att ta parti för den skyldige
och vränga rätten för den oskyldige.

Dårens läppar kommer med kiv,
    hans mun tigger om stryk.

Dårens mun är hans fördärv,
    hans läppar en snara för hans liv.

Baktalarens ord är som läckerbitar,
    de tränger in i människans inre.

Den som är försumlig i sitt arbete
    är en broder till rövaren.

10 Herrens namn är ett starkt torn,
    den rättfärdige skyndar dit och får skydd.

11 Den rikes ägodelar är hans fasta borg,
lik en hög mur i hans inbillning.

12 Hjärtats högmod går före fall,
    ödmjukhet föregår ära.

13 Den som svarar innan han lyssnat,
handlar dåraktigt och skamligt.

14 Mod håller mannen uppe i hans svaghet,
men vem orkar bära ett brutet mod?

15 Den förståndiges hjärta förvärvar kunskap,
och de visas öron söker kunskap.

16 En gåva öppnar vägen för en människa
och för henne fram inför de stora.

17 Den som först för sin talan tycks ha rätt,
till dess hans motpart kommer och prövar saken.

18 Lotten stillar trätor
    och skiljer mellan mäktiga män.

19 En kränkt broder är svårare att vinna än en befäst stad,
trätor är som bommar för en borg.

20 Av sin muns frukt blir var och en mättad,
buken fylls av läpparnas skörd.

21 Tungan har makt över död och liv,
de som gärna brukar den får äta dess frukt.

22 Den som funnit en hustru har funnit något gott,
han har fått nåd ifrån Herren.

23 Den fattige tigger om nåd,
    den rike svarar med hårda ord.

24 Vänner kan slita varandra i stycken,
men det finns en vän som är mer hängiven än en bror.

The Name of the Lord Is a Strong Tower

18 A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire;
He rages against all [a]wise judgment.

A fool has no delight in understanding,
But in expressing his (A)own heart.

When the wicked comes, contempt comes also;
And with dishonor comes reproach.

(B)The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters;
(C)The wellspring of wisdom is a flowing brook.

It is not good to show partiality to the wicked,
Or to overthrow the righteous in (D)judgment.

A fool’s lips enter into contention,
And his mouth calls for blows.
(E)A fool’s mouth is his destruction,
And his lips are the snare of his (F)soul.
(G)The words of a [b]talebearer are like [c]tasty trifles,
And they go down into the [d]inmost body.

He who is slothful in his work
Is a brother to him who is a great destroyer.

10 The name of the Lord is a strong (H)tower;
The righteous run to it and are [e]safe.
11 The rich man’s wealth is his strong city,
And like a high wall in his own esteem.

12 (I)Before destruction the heart of a man is haughty,
And before honor is humility.

13 He who answers a matter before he hears it,
It is folly and shame to him.

14 The spirit of a man will sustain him in sickness,
But who can bear a broken spirit?

15 The heart of the prudent acquires knowledge,
And the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.

16 (J)A man’s gift makes room for him,
And brings him before great men.

17 The first one to plead his cause seems right,
Until his neighbor comes and examines him.

18 Casting (K)lots causes contentions to cease,
And keeps the mighty apart.

19 A brother offended is harder to win than a strong city,
And contentions are like the bars of a castle.

20 (L)A man’s stomach shall be satisfied from the fruit of his mouth;
From the produce of his lips he shall be filled.

21 (M)Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
And those who love it will eat its fruit.

22 (N)He who finds a wife finds a good thing,
And obtains favor from the Lord.

23 The poor man uses entreaties,
But the rich answers (O)roughly.

24 A man who has friends [f]must himself be friendly,
(P)But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 18:1 sound wisdom
  2. Proverbs 18:8 gossip or slanderer
  3. Proverbs 18:8 A Jewish tradition wounds
  4. Proverbs 18:8 Lit. rooms of the belly
  5. Proverbs 18:10 secure, lit. set on high
  6. Proverbs 18:24 So with Gr. mss., Syr., Tg., Vg.; MT may come to ruin

18 Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom.

A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.

When the wicked cometh, then cometh also contempt, and with ignominy reproach.

The words of a man's mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook.

It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment.

A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes.

A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.

The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

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.

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)