Proverbs 18:12-19:21

English Standard Version

^12 (A)Before destruction a man's heart is haughty,
    but ^(B)humility comes before honor.
¹³ If one gives an answer ^(C)before he hears,
    it is his folly and shame.
¹⁴ A man's spirit will endure sickness,
    but ^(D)a crushed spirit who can bear?
¹⁵ An intelligent heart acquires knowledge,
    and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
¹⁶ A man's ^(E)gift makes room for him
    and brings him before the great.
¹⁷ The one who states his case first seems right,
    until the other comes and examines him.
^18 (F)The lot puts an end to quarrels
    and decides between powerful contenders.
¹⁹ A brother offended is more unyielding than a strong city,
    and quarreling is like the bars of a castle.
^20 (G)From the fruit of a man's mouth his stomach is satisfied;
    he is satisfied by the yield of his lips.
^21 (H)Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
    and those who love it will eat its fruits.
²² He who finds ^(I)a wife finds ^(J)a good thing
    and ^(K)obtains favor ^(L)from the Lord.
²³ The poor use entreaties,
    but ^(M)the rich answer roughly.
²⁴ A man of many companions may come to ruin,
    but ^(N)there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
19 ^(O)Better is a poor person who ^(P)walks in his integrity
    than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool.
² Desire^[a] without knowledge is not good,
    and whoever ^(Q)makes haste with his feet misses his way.
³ When a man's folly ^(R)brings his way to ruin,
    his heart ^(S)rages against the Lord.
^4 (T)Wealth brings many new friends,
    ^(U)but a poor man is deserted by his friend.
^5 (V)A false witness will not go unpunished,
    and he who ^(W)breathes out lies will not escape.
⁶ Many seek the favor of a generous man,^[b]
    and everyone is a friend to a man who gives ^(X)gifts.
^7 (Y)All a poor man's brothers hate him;
    ^(Z)how much more do his friends go far from him!
He pursues them with words, but does not have them.^[c]
8 (AA)Whoever gets sense loves his own soul;
    he who keeps understanding will ^(AB)discover good.
^9 (AC)A false witness will not go unpunished,
    and he who ^(AD)breathes out lies will perish.
^10 (AE)It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury,
    much less for ^(AF)a slave to rule over princes.
^11 (AG)Good sense makes one slow to anger,
    and it is his glory to overlook an offense.
¹² A king's wrath is like ^(AH)the growling of a lion,
    but his ^(AI)favor is like ^(AJ)dew on the grass.
^13 (AK)A foolish son is ruin to his father,
    and ^(AL)a wife's quarreling is ^(AM)a continual dripping of rain.
^14 (AN)House and wealth are inherited from fathers,
    but a prudent wife is ^(AO)from the Lord.
^15 (AP)Slothfulness casts into ^(AQ)a deep sleep,
    and ^(AR)an idle person will suffer hunger.
¹⁶ Whoever ^(AS)keeps the commandment keeps his life;
    he who despises his ways will die.
^17 (AT)Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord,
    and he ^(AU)will repay him for his ^(AV)deed.
^18 (AW)Discipline your son, for there is hope;
    do not set your heart on ^(AX)putting him to death.
¹⁹ A man of great wrath will pay the penalty,
    for if you deliver him, you will only have to do it again.
²⁰ Listen to advice and accept instruction,
    that you may gain wisdom in ^(AY)the future.
^21 (AZ)Many are the plans in the mind of a man,
    but ^(BA)it is the purpose of the Lord ^(BB)that will stand.