Proverbs 18
Christian Standard Bible
18 One who isolates himself pursues selfish desires;
he rebels against all sound wisdom.
3 When a wicked person comes, contempt also comes,
and along with dishonor, derision.
6 A fool’s lips lead to strife,
and his mouth provokes a beating.(E)
7 A fool’s mouth is his devastation,
and his lips are a trap for his life.(F)
11 The wealth of the rich is his fortified city;
in his imagination it is like a high wall.(K)
13 The one who gives an answer before he listens—
this is foolishness and disgrace for him.(N)
14 A person’s spirit can endure sickness,
but who can survive a broken spirit?(O)
15 The mind of the discerning acquires knowledge,
and the ear of the wise seeks it.(P)
17 The first to state his case seems right
until another comes and cross-examines him.(R)
18 Casting the lot(S) ends quarrels
and separates powerful opponents.
19 An offended brother is harder to reach[g]
than a fortified city,
and quarrels are like the bars of a fortress.
20 From the fruit of a person’s mouth his stomach is satisfied;
he is filled with the product of his lips.(T)
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
and those who love it will eat its fruit.(U)
Footnotes
- 18:2 Lit to uncover his heart
- 18:4 Or waters; a fountain of wisdom is a flowing river
- 18:8 Lit to the chambers of the belly
- 18:9 Lit master of destruction
- 18:10 Lit raised high
- 18:16 Lit gift makes room
- 18:19 LXX, Syr, Tg, Vg read is stronger
- 18:24 Some LXX mss, Syr, Tg, Vg read friends must be friendly
Proverbs 18
Expanded Bible
18 ·Unfriendly [Antisocial; Lonely] people ·are selfish [L seek their own longings/desires]
and ·hate [L break out against] all good sense.
2 Fools do not ·want to understand anything [L delight in understanding].
They only want to ·tell others what they think [L reveal/disclose their heart].
3 Do something evil, and people won’t like you.
Do something shameful, and they will ·make fun of [insult] you.
4 ·Spoken words [L The words of a person’s mouth] can be like deep water,
·but [or and] the fountain of wisdom is like a flowing stream.
5 It is not good to ·honor [or show favor to] the wicked
or to be unfair to the innocent.
6 The ·words [L lips] of fools ·start quarrels [or make accusations].
·They make people want to beat them [L Their mouth invites a beating].
7 The ·words [L mouth] of fools will ruin them;
their own ·words [L lips] will trap them.
8 The words of a gossip are like tasty bits of food.
·People like to gobble them up [L They go down to one’s inmost parts].
9 A person who doesn’t work hard
is ·just like someone who destroys things [L a brother to a destroyer].
10 The name of the Lord is like a strong tower;
·those who do right [the righteous] can run to him for ·safety [refuge].
11 Rich people trust their wealth like a strong city.
They think it is like the high walls.
12 Proud people will be ruined,
but ·the humble will be honored [humility comes before glory].
13 Anyone who answers without listening
is foolish and ·confused [or a disgrace].
14 The ·will to live [L human spirit] can get you through sickness,
but ·no one can live with [L who can bear…?] a broken spirit.
15 The ·mind [heart] of a person with understanding gets knowledge;
the ·wise person listens to learn more [L ear of the wise seeks knowledge].
16 Taking gifts to important people
will help get you in to see them.
17 The person who ·tells one side of [first tells] a story seems right,
until ·someone else [his friend/neighbor] comes and asks questions.
18 Throwing lots can settle arguments
and ·keep the two sides from fighting [is decisive against powerful people].
19 A brother who has been ·insulted [offended] is harder to win back than a walled city,
and arguments separate people like the barred gates of a palace.
20 ·People will be rewarded for what they say [L From the fruit of the mouth of a person is their stomach satisfied];
·they will be rewarded by how they speak [L the yield/gain of their lips satisfies].
21 ·What you say can mean [L In the power of the tongue are] life or death.
Those who ·speak with care [love it] will ·be rewarded [L eat its fruit].
22 When a man finds a wife, he finds something good.
It shows that the Lord ·is pleased with [favors] him.
23 The poor beg for mercy,
but the rich give ·rude [harsh] answers.
24 Some friends may ruin you,
but a real friend will ·be more loyal [cling closer] than a brother.
The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.
The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.