Contrast of the Upright and the Wicked

18 One who separates himself seeks his own desire;
He [a](A)quarrels against all sound wisdom.
A fool does not delight in understanding,
But (B)in revealing his own [b]mind.
When a wicked person comes, contempt also comes,
And with dishonor comes taunting.
The words of a person’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)suppress the righteous in judgment.
A fool’s lips [d]bring strife,
And his mouth invites (F)beatings.
A (G)fool’s mouth is his ruin,
And his lips are the snare of his soul.
The words of a gossiper are like dainty morsels,
And they go down into the [e]innermost parts of the body.
He also who is (H)lax in his work
(I)Is a 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 person’s wealth is his strong city,
And like a high wall in his own imagination.
12 (N)Before destruction the heart of a person is haughty,
But (O)humility goes before honor.
13 One who (P)gives an answer before he hears,
It is foolishness and shame to him.
14 The (Q)spirit of a person can endure his sickness,
But as for a (R)broken spirit, who can endure it?
15 The [g](S)mind of the discerning acquires knowledge,
And the (T)ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
16 A person’s (U)gift makes room for him
And brings him before great people.
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 quarrels,
And [j]decides between the mighty ones.
19 A brother who is offended is harder to be won than a strong city,
And quarrels are like the bars of a citadel.
20 With the [k](W)fruit of a person’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 A (AC)poor person utters pleadings,
But a (AD)rich person (AE)answers defiantly.
24 A person of too many friends comes to [m]ruin,
But there is (AF)a 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

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 El que vive aislado busca su propio deseo,
Contra todo consejo se encoleriza(A).
El necio no se deleita en la prudencia,
Sino solo en revelar su corazón(B).
Cuando llega el impío, llega también el desprecio,
Y con la deshonra viene la afrenta.
Aguas profundas son las palabras de la boca del hombre(C);
Arroyo que fluye, la fuente de la sabiduría.
No es bueno mostrar preferencia(D) por el impío,
Para ignorar al[a] justo en el juicio(E).
Los labios del necio provocan[b] riña,
Y su boca llama a los golpes(F).
La boca del necio es su ruina(G),
Y sus labios una trampa para su alma.
Las palabras del chismoso son como bocados deliciosos,
Y penetran hasta el fondo de las entrañas[c].
También el que es negligente en su trabajo(H)
Es hermano del que destruye(I).
10 El nombre del Señor(J) es torre fuerte(K),
A ella corre el justo y está a salvo[d](L).
11 La fortuna del rico es su ciudad fortificada(M),
Y como muralla alta en su imaginación.
12 Antes de la destrucción el corazón del hombre es altivo(N),
Pero a la gloria precede la humildad(O).
13 El que responde antes de escuchar,
Cosecha[e] necedad y vergüenza(P).
14 El espíritu del hombre puede soportar su enfermedad(Q),
Pero el espíritu quebrantado, ¿quién lo puede sobrellevar(R)?
15 El corazón del prudente adquiere conocimiento(S),
Y el oído del sabio busca el conocimiento(T).
16 La dádiva del hombre le abre camino(U)
Y lo lleva ante la presencia de los grandes.
17 Justo parece el primero que defiende su causa[f]
Hasta que otro[g] viene y lo examina[h].
18 La suerte(V) pone fin a los pleitos
Y decide[i] entre los poderosos.
19 El hermano ofendido es más difícil de ganar que una ciudad fortificada,
Y los pleitos son como cerrojos de fortaleza.
20 Con el fruto de su boca el hombre sacia su vientre(W),
Con el producto de sus labios se saciará(X).
21 Muerte y vida están en poder[j] de la lengua(Y),
Y los que la aman comerán su fruto(Z).
22 El que halla esposa halla algo bueno(AA)
Y alcanza el favor del Señor(AB).
23 El pobre habla suplicando(AC),
Pero el rico(AD) responde con dureza(AE).
24 El hombre de muchos amigos se arruina[k],
Pero hay amigo[l] más unido que un hermano(AF).

Footnotes

  1. Proverbios 18:5 Lit. echar a un lado.
  2. Proverbios 18:6 Lit. vienen con.
  3. Proverbios 18:8 Lit. las cavidades del vientre.
  4. Proverbios 18:10 Lit. es puesto en alto.
  5. Proverbios 18:13 Lit. le es.
  6. Proverbios 18:17 Lit. en su defensa.
  7. Proverbios 18:17 Lit. su prójimo.
  8. Proverbios 18:17 O interroga.
  9. Proverbios 18:18 Lit. hace división.
  10. Proverbios 18:21 Lit. mano.
  11. Proverbios 18:24 Lit. se hace pedazos.
  12. Proverbios 18:24 O persona amada.