Proverbs 18
Christian Standard Bible Anglicised
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 dishonour, 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
Complete Jewish Bible
18 He who separates himself indulges his desires
and shows contempt for sound advice of any kind.
2 A fool takes no pleasure in trying to understand;
he only wants to express his own opinion.
3 When a wicked person comes, contempt comes too,
and with disdain, provocation.
4 The words of a man’s mouth are deep water,
a gushing torrent, a fountain of wisdom.
5 It is not good to be partial to the guilty
and thus deprive the innocent of justice.
6 A fool’s words get him into fights;
yes, his mouth calls out for a beating.
7 A fool’s mouth is his ruin;
his words are a trap for him.
8 A slanderer’s words are tasty morsels;
they slide right down into the belly.
9 Whoever is lazy in doing his work
is brother to the destroyer.
10 The name of Adonai is a strong tower;
a righteous person runs to it and is raised high [above danger].
11 The wealth of the rich is his fortified city,
like a high wall, in his own imagination.
12 Before being ruined, a person’s heart is proud;
before being honored, a person must be humble.
13 To answer someone before hearing him out
is both stupid and embarrassing.
14 A person’s spirit can sustain him when ill,
but a crushed spirit — who can bear it?
15 The mind of a person with discernment gets knowledge,
and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
16 A person’s gift clears his way
and gives him access to the great.
17 The first to state his case seems right,
till the other one comes and cross-examines.
18 Casting lots puts an end to strife
and separates powerful disputants.
19 It is harder to win an offended brother than a strong city;
their fights are like the bars of a fortress.
20 A person’s belly will be filled with the fruit of his mouth;
with what his lips produce he will be filled.
21 The tongue has power over life and death;
those who indulge it must eat its fruit.
22 He who finds a wife finds a great good;
he has won the favor of Adonai.
23 The poor man speaks beseechingly,
the rich man’s answer is blunt.
24 Some “friends” pretend to be friends,
but a true friend sticks closer than a brother.
Copyright © 2024 by Holman Bible Publishers.
Copyright © 1998 by David H. Stern. All rights reserved.