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Proverbs 18
King James Version
Proverbs 18
King James Version
18 Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom.
2 A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.
3 When the wicked cometh, then cometh also contempt, and with ignominy reproach.
4 The words of a man's mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook.
5 It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment.
6 A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes.
7 A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.
8 The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
9 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.
Proverbs 18
New International Version
Proverbs 18
New International Version
18 An unfriendly person pursues selfish ends
and against all sound judgment starts quarrels.
2 Fools find no pleasure in understanding
but delight in airing their own opinions.(A)
3 When wickedness comes, so does contempt,
and with shame comes reproach.
4 The words of the mouth are deep waters,(B)
but the fountain of wisdom is a rushing stream.
6 The lips of fools bring them strife,
and their mouths invite a beating.(E)
8 The words of a gossip are like choice morsels;
they go down to the inmost parts.(H)
9 One who is slack in his work
is brother to one who destroys.(I)
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)
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)
Sprüche 18
Schlachter 2000
Sprüche 18
Schlachter 2000
Freundschaft und zwischenmenschliche Beziehungen
18 Wer sich absondert, der sucht, was ihn gelüstet,
und wehrt sich[a] gegen alles, was heilsam ist.
2 Einem Toren ist es nicht ums Lernen zu tun,
sondern darum, zu enthüllen, was er weiß.[b]
3 Wo der Gottlose hinkommt, da stellt sich auch Verachtung ein,
und mit der Schande die Schmach.
4 Die Worte eines Mannes sind tiefe Wasser,
ein sprudelnder Bach, eine Quelle der Weisheit.
5 Es ist nicht gut, wenn man die Person des Gottlosen ansieht,[c]
um den Gerechten zu unterdrücken im Gericht.
6 Die Reden des Toren stiften Streit,
und er schimpft, bis er Schläge kriegt.[d]
7 Der Mund des Toren wird ihm zum Verderben,
und seine Lippen sind der Fallstrick seiner Seele.
8 Die Worte des Verleumders sind wie Leckerbissen;
sie dringen in die verborgenen Kammern des Inneren.
9 Schon wer nachlässig ist in seiner Arbeit,
der ist ein Bruder des Zerstörers.
10 Der Name des Herrn ist ein starker Turm;
der Gerechte läuft dorthin und ist in Sicherheit.
11 Der Besitz des Reichen ist für ihn eine feste Stadt
und wie eine hohe Mauer in seiner Einbildung.
12 Vor dem Zusammenbruch wird das Herz des Menschen hochmütig,
aber vor der Ehre kommt die Demut.
13 Wer antwortet, bevor er gehört hat,
dem ist es Torheit und Schande.
14 Ein männlicher Mut erträgt sein Leiden,
wer aber kann einen niedergeschlagenen Geist aufrichten?
15 Das Herz des Verständigen erwirbt Erkenntnis,
und nach Erkenntnis trachtet das Ohr der Weisen.
16 Das Geschenk macht dem Menschen Raum
und verschafft ihm Zutritt zu den Großen.
17 Wer sich in seinem Prozess zuerst verteidigen darf, hat recht —
doch dann kommt der andere und forscht ihn aus.
18 Das Los schlichtet den Streit
und entscheidet zwischen Mächtigen.
19 Ein Bruder, an dem man treulos gehandelt hat, ist schwerer zu gewinnen als eine befestigte Stadt,
und Zerwürfnisse sind wie der Riegel einer Burg.
20 An der Frucht seines Mundes sättigt sich der Mensch,
am Ertrag seiner Lippen isst er sich satt.
21 Tod und Leben steht in der Gewalt der Zunge,
und wer sie liebt, der wird ihre Frucht essen.
22 Wer eine Ehefrau gefunden hat, der hat etwas Gutes gefunden
und hat Gunst erlangt von dem Herrn.
23 Der Arme bittet mit Flehen,
aber der Reiche antwortet hart.
24 Wer viele Gefährten[e] hat, der wird daran zugrunde gehen,
aber es gibt einen Freund, der anhänglicher ist als ein Bruder.
Footnotes
- (18,1) od. geht heftig an.
- (18,2) Andere Übersetzung: Ein Tor hat kein Gefallen an Einsicht, sondern daran, zu offenbaren, was in seinem Herzen ist.
- (18,5) d.h. ihn begünstigt.
- (18,6) w. und sein Mund ruft nach Schlägen.
- (18,24) Das Wort beschreibt hier oberflächliche Bekannte, auf die kein Verlass ist.
Proverbs 18
English Standard Version
Proverbs 18
English Standard Version
18 Whoever (A)isolates himself seeks his own desire;
he breaks out against all sound judgment.
2 A fool takes no pleasure in understanding,
but only (B)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 (C)deep waters;
the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.
5 It is not good to (D)be partial to[a] the wicked
or to (E)deprive the righteous of justice.
6 A fool's lips walk into a fight,
and his mouth invites (F)a beating.
7 (G)A fool's mouth is his ruin,
and his lips are a snare to his soul.
8 (H)The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels;
they go down into (I)the inner parts of the body.
9 Whoever is slack in his work
is a (J)brother to him who destroys.
10 (K)The name of the Lord is (L)a strong tower;
the righteous man runs into it and (M)is safe.
11 (N)A rich man's wealth is his strong city,
and like a high wall in his imagination.
12 (O)Before destruction a man's heart is haughty,
but (P)humility comes before honor.
13 If one gives an answer (Q)before he hears,
it is his folly and shame.
14 A man's spirit will endure sickness,
but (R)a crushed spirit who can bear?
15 An intelligent heart acquires knowledge,
and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
16 A man's (S)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 (T)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 (U)From the fruit of a man's mouth his stomach is satisfied;
he is satisfied by the yield of his lips.
21 (V)Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
and those who love it will eat its fruits.
22 He who finds (W)a wife finds (X)a good thing
and (Y)obtains favor (Z)from the Lord.
23 The poor use entreaties,
but (AA)the rich answer roughly.
24 A man of many companions may come to ruin,
but (AB)there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 18:5 Hebrew to lift the face of
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
Schlachter 2000 (SCH2000)
Copyright © 2000 by Geneva Bible Society
English Standard Version (ESV) 
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.