Proverbs 17:22-18:12
English Standard Version
22 (A)A joyful heart is good medicine,
but a crushed spirit (B)dries up the bones.
23 The wicked accepts (C)a bribe in secret[a]
to (D)pervert the ways of justice.
24 (E)The discerning sets his face toward wisdom,
but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.
25 (F)A foolish son is a grief to his father
(G)and bitterness to (H)her who bore him.
26 (I)To impose a fine on a righteous man is not good,
nor to strike the noble for their uprightness.
27 Whoever (J)restrains his words has knowledge,
and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.
28 Even a fool (K)who keeps silent is considered wise;
when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.
18 Whoever (L)isolates himself seeks his own desire;
he breaks out against all sound judgment.
2 A fool takes no pleasure in understanding,
but only (M)in expressing his opinion.
3 When wickedness comes, contempt comes also,
and with dishonor comes disgrace.
4 The words of a man's mouth are (N)deep waters;
the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.
5 It is not good to (O)be partial to[b] the wicked
or to (P)deprive the righteous of justice.
6 A fool's lips walk into a fight,
and his mouth invites (Q)a beating.
7 (R)A fool's mouth is his ruin,
and his lips are a snare to his soul.
8 (S)The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels;
they go down into (T)the inner parts of the body.
9 Whoever is slack in his work
is a (U)brother to him who destroys.
10 (V)The name of the Lord is (W)a strong tower;
the righteous man runs into it and (X)is safe.
11 (Y)A rich man's wealth is his strong city,
and like a high wall in his imagination.
12 (Z)Before destruction a man's heart is haughty,
but (AA)humility comes before honor.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 17:23 Hebrew a bribe from the bosom
- Proverbs 18:5 Hebrew to lift the face of
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.