Proverbs 18
New Catholic Bible
Chapter 18
The Words of the Mouth[a]
1 Someone who lives alone seeks only to fulfill his desires
and ignores the advice of others.
2 A fool takes no pleasure in understanding
but only delights in expressing his own opinions.
3 When wickedness comes, it is accompanied by contempt,
and with dishonor comes disgrace.
4 The words of the mouth are turbulent waters,
but the fountain of wisdom is a flowing brook.
5 It is not right to show partiality[b] to the guilty
or to deprive the innocent of a just judgment.
6 The lips of a fool cause strife,
and his mouth provokes a flogging.
7 The mouth of a fool leads to his ruin,
and his lips are a snare to his very life.[c]
8 The whispers of a gossiper are tasty morsels
that corrode one’s inner being.
9 Anyone who is lazy in his work
is a brother to the man who wages destruction.
10 [d]The name of the Lord is a tower of strength;
the upright man runs to it and finds refuge.
11 The wealth of a rich man is his stronghold;
he regards it as a high wall that cannot be scaled.
12 A man is haughty until disaster overtakes him,
but humility comes before honors.
13 One who answers before listening
exposes his folly and incurs shame.
14 A man’s spirit can manage to endure sickness,
but when the spirit is crushed, who can bear it?
15 A discerning mind gains knowledge,
and the ears of the wise eagerly seek knowledge.
16 A gift opens doors for the giver
and wins him access to the powerful.
17 The one who pleads his case first will seem right
until his opponent comes forth to interrogate him.[e]
18 Casting lots[f] can settle disputes
and avoid contention between powerful rivals.
19 An offended brother is stronger than a fortress,
and quarrels are more difficult to overcome than castle gates.
20 From the fruit of the mouth one’s stomach is filled;
contentment is gained from the yield of one’s lips.
21 The tongue has the power over life and death;[g]
those who cherish it will enjoy its fruits.
22 One who finds a wife finds happiness
and receives favor from the Lord.[h]
23 A poor man uses language of entreaty,
but the rich man replies with insults.
24 Some friends can lead us to ruin,
but a true friend is closer than a brother.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 18:1 In this sparse series of sayings, whose themes are now familiar to the reader, a few reflections stand out, e.g., concerning the danger of the human word and the difficulty of the righteous during a trial. Once again we note the unfavorable state of the poor (v. 23).
- Proverbs 18:5 Partiality toward anyone was condemned in the law (see Lev 19:15; Deut 1:17; 16:19).
- Proverbs 18:7 One who cannot curb his tongue is a fool (see Jas 3), for it is through our words that we are justified or condemned (see Mt 12:37). Our speech should always be seasoned with salt so that we may know how to respond to each person (see Col 4:6).
- Proverbs 18:10 In the struggle of life the faithful find support and refuge in the Lord, while the foolish put their trust in their wealth. Name of the Lord: the name stands for the person since it expresses his nature and qualities (see note on Ex 3:13-15). Tower: towers were the only safe places against robbers and enemies. The wealth . . . stronghold: same as Prov 10:15 (see note there). Cannot be scaled: unscalable for humans but not for God (see Isa 25:12).
- Proverbs 18:17 This verse can apply to many situations, but it can also be interpreted as being directed toward judges to persuade them to hear both sides of a case (see Deut 1:16).
- Proverbs 18:18 Casting lots: see note on Prov 16:33.
- Proverbs 18:21 The tongue has the power over life and death: see note on Prov 13:3.
- Proverbs 18:22 Receives favor from the Lord: identical to Prov 8:35, where the favor results from finding wisdom.
Proverbs 18
New King James Version
The Name of the Lord Is a Strong Tower
18 A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire;
He rages against all [a]wise judgment.
2 A fool has no delight in understanding,
But in expressing his (A)own heart.
3 When the wicked comes, contempt comes also;
And with dishonor comes reproach.
5 It is not good to show partiality to the wicked,
Or to overthrow the righteous in (D)judgment.
6 A fool’s lips enter into contention,
And his mouth calls for blows.
7 (E)A fool’s mouth is his destruction,
And his lips are the snare of his (F)soul.
8 (G)The words of a [b]talebearer are like [c]tasty trifles,
And they go down into the [d]inmost body.
9 He who is slothful in his work
Is a brother to him who is a great destroyer.
10 The name of the Lord is a strong (H)tower;
The righteous run to it and are [e]safe.
11 The rich man’s wealth is his strong city,
And like a high wall in his own esteem.
12 (I)Before destruction the heart of a man is haughty,
And before honor is humility.
13 He who answers a matter before he hears it,
It is folly and shame to him.
14 The spirit of a man will sustain him in sickness,
But who can bear a broken spirit?
15 The heart of the prudent acquires knowledge,
And the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
16 (J)A man’s gift makes room for him,
And brings him before great men.
17 The first one to plead his cause seems right,
Until his neighbor comes and examines him.
18 Casting (K)lots causes contentions to cease,
And keeps the mighty apart.
19 A brother offended is harder to win than a strong city,
And contentions are like the bars of a castle.
20 (L)A man’s stomach shall be satisfied from the fruit of his mouth;
From the produce of his lips he shall be filled.
21 (M)Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
And those who love it will eat its fruit.
22 (N)He who finds a wife finds a good thing,
And obtains favor from the Lord.
23 The poor man uses entreaties,
But the rich answers (O)roughly.
24 A man who has friends [f]must himself be friendly,
(P)But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 18:1 sound wisdom
- Proverbs 18:8 gossip or slanderer
- Proverbs 18:8 A Jewish tradition wounds
- Proverbs 18:8 Lit. rooms of the belly
- Proverbs 18:10 secure, lit. set on high
- Proverbs 18:24 So with Gr. mss., Syr., Tg., Vg.; MT may come to ruin
箴言 18
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Traditional)
18 孤傲者獨善其身，
他惱恨一切真知。
2 愚人不喜歡悟性，
只喜歡發表意見。
3 邪惡與藐視同行，
無恥與羞辱為伴。
4 人口中的話如同深水，
智慧之泉像涓涓溪流。
5 袒護惡人、冤枉義人都為不善。
6 愚人說話引起紛爭，
他的口招來鞭打。
7 愚人的口自招滅亡，
他的嘴坑害他自己。
8 閒言碎語如同美食，
深入人的五臟六腑。
9 懶惰人與毀壞者臭味相投。
10 耶和華的名是堅固保障，
義人投奔其中就得安穩。
11 財富是富人的堅城，
在他幻想中是高牆。
12 驕傲是敗亡的前奏，
謙虛是尊榮的先鋒。
13 未聽先答的人，
自顯愚昧和羞辱。
14 人的心靈能忍受疾病，
誰能忍受破碎的心靈？
15 哲士的心得知識，
智者的耳求知識。
16 禮物為人開路，
領人晉見權貴。
17 先告狀的看似有理，
一經對質真相大白。
18 抽籤可以平息爭端，
調解強者間的糾紛。
19 與結怨的兄弟和解比攻城還難，
爭端難破，如堅城的門閂。
20 人因口中所說的話而飽足，
因嘴中所出的言語而滿足。
21 口舌能夠定生死，
多嘴多言食惡果。
22 得到妻子就是得到珍寶，
也是蒙了耶和華的恩惠。
23 窮人哀聲懇求，
富人惡言相向。
24 濫交友，自招損；
得知己，勝手足。
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
