18 A person who is a loner seeks his own desires.
He fights against all sound judgment.
² A fool finds no pleasure in understanding,
but only in revealing his own opinions.
³ When a wicked person comes, contempt comes with him,
and with dishonor comes disgrace.
⁴ The words from a man’s mouth are deep waters.
The fountain of wisdom is a flowing stream.
⁵ It is not good to show favoritism to a wicked person
    in order to deprive a righteous person of justice.
⁶ A fool’s lips enter a fight,
and his mouth invites a beating.
⁷ A fool’s mouth is his destruction,
and his lips are a trap for his soul.^[a]
8 The words of a gossip are like delicious food.
People gobble them right down.^[b]
9 A person who fails to do his work
    is a brother to a vandal.
¹⁰ The name of the Lord is a strong tower.
A righteous person runs inside and is protected.
¹¹ A rich person’s wealth is his strong city.
In his imagination it is like a high wall.
¹² Before destruction a man’s heart is proud,
but humility comes before honor.
¹³ If a person answers before he listens,
that is foolishness that brings disgrace.
¹⁴ A man’s spirit can endure illness,
but who can bear a broken spirit?
¹⁵ A discerning heart acquires knowledge,
and the ears of the wise seek knowledge.
¹⁶ A person’s gift opens doors^[c] for him.
It leads him into the presence of great people.
¹⁷ The first person to state his case appears to be right.
Then his neighbor comes and cross-examines him.
¹⁸ Casting lots^[d] ends disputes and decides between powerful people.
¹⁹ A brother who has been wronged is harder to regain than a strong city,
and disputes are like a bar across the gate of a citadel.
²⁰ From the fruit of a man’s mouth, his stomach is satisfied.
He is satisfied with the harvest of his lips.
²¹ Life and death lie in the power of a tongue,
and those who love to use it will eat its fruit.
²² The man who finds a wife finds a good thing,
and he obtains favor from the Lord.
²³ A poor man pleads for mercy,
but a rich man answers harshly.
²⁴ A man with many acquaintances may suffer harm,
but there is a loving friend who sticks closer than a brother.