Print Page Options Listen to Proverbs 18

18 An unfriendly person pursues selfish ends
    and against all sound judgment starts quarrels.

Fools find no pleasure in understanding
    but delight in airing their own opinions.(A)

When wickedness comes, so does contempt,
    and with shame comes reproach.

The words of the mouth are deep waters,(B)
    but the fountain of wisdom is a rushing stream.

It is not good to be partial to the wicked(C)
    and so deprive the innocent of justice.(D)

The lips of fools bring them strife,
    and their mouths invite a beating.(E)

The mouths of fools are their undoing,
    and their lips are a snare(F) to their very lives.(G)

The words of a gossip are like choice morsels;
    they go down to the inmost parts.(H)

One who is slack in his work
    is brother to one who destroys.(I)

10 The name of the Lord is a fortified tower;(J)
    the righteous run to it and are safe.(K)

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)

21 The tongue has the power of life and death,(U)
    and those who love it will eat its fruit.(V)

22 He who finds a wife finds what is good(W)
    and receives favor from the Lord.(X)

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)

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.

A fool has no delight in understanding,
But in expressing his (A)own heart.

When the wicked comes, contempt comes also;
And with dishonor comes reproach.

(B)The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters;
(C)The wellspring of wisdom is a flowing brook.

It is not good to show partiality to the wicked,
Or to overthrow the righteous in (D)judgment.

A fool’s lips enter into contention,
And his mouth calls for blows.
(E)A fool’s mouth is his destruction,
And his lips are the snare of his (F)soul.
(G)The words of a [b]talebearer are like [c]tasty trifles,
And they go down into the [d]inmost body.

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

  1. Proverbs 18:1 sound wisdom
  2. Proverbs 18:8 gossip or slanderer
  3. Proverbs 18:8 A Jewish tradition wounds
  4. Proverbs 18:8 Lit. rooms of the belly
  5. Proverbs 18:10 secure, lit. set on high
  6. Proverbs 18:24 So with Gr. mss., Syr., Tg., Vg.; MT may come to ruin

18 Ang humihiwalay ay humahanap ng sarili niyang nasa, at nakikipagtalo laban sa lahat na magaling na karunungan.

Ang mangmang ay walang kaluguran sa paguunawa, kundi maihayag lamang ang kaniyang puso.

Pagka ang masama ay dumarating, dumarating din naman ang paghamak, at kasama ng kutya ang pagkaduwahagi.

Ang mga salita ng bibig ng tao ay parang malalim na tubig; ang bukal ng karunungan ay parang umaagos na batis.

Igalang ang pagkatao ng masama ay hindi mabuti, ni iligaw man ang matuwid sa kahatulan.

Ang mga labi ng mangmang ay nanasok sa pagkakaalit, at tinatawag ng kaniyang bibig ang mga hampas.

Ang bibig ng mangmang ay kaniyang kapahamakan, at ang kaniyang mga labi ay silo ng kaniyang kaluluwa.

Ang mga salita ng mga mapaghatid-dumapit ay parang mga masarap na subo, at nagsisibaba sa pinakaloob ng tiyan.

Siya mang walang bahala sa kaniyang gawain ay kapatid siya ng maninira.

10 Ang pangalan ng Panginoon ay matibay na moog: tinatakbuhan ng matuwid at naliligtas.

11 Ang yaman ng mayamang tao ay ang kaniyang matibay na bayan, at gaya ng matayog na kuta sa kaniyang sariling isip,

12 Bago ang pagkapahamak ay pagmamalaki ng puso ng tao, at bago ang karangalan ang pagpapakumbaba.

13 Ang sumasagot bago makinig, ay kamangmangan at kahihiyan sa kaniya.

14 Aalalayan ng diwa ng tao ang kaniyang sakit; nguni't ang bagbag na diwa sinong nakapagdadala?

15 Ang puso ng mabait ay nagtatamo ng kaalaman; at ang pakinig ng pantas ay humahanap ng kaalaman.

16 Ang kaloob ng tao ay nagbubukas ng daan sa kaniya, at dinadala siya sa harap ng mga dakilang tao.

17 Ang nakikipaglaban ng kaniyang usap na una ay tila ganap; nguni't dumarating ang kaniyang kapuwa at sinisiyasat siya.

18 Ang pagsasapalaran ay nagpapatigil ng mga pagtatalo, at naghihiwalay sa gitna ng mga makapangyarihan.

19 Ang kapatid na nasaktan sa kalooban ay mahirap mabawi kay sa matibay na bayan: at ang gayong mga pagtatalo ay parang mga halang ng isang kastilyo.

20 Ang tiyan ng tao ay mabubusog ng bunga ng kaniyang bibig; sa bunga ng kaniyang mga labi ay masisiyahan siya.

21 Kamatayan at buhay ay nasa kapangyarihan ng dila; at ang nagsisiibig sa kaniya ay magsisikain ng kaniyang bunga.

22 Sinomang lalaking nakakasumpong ng asawa ay nakasumpong ng mabuting bagay, at nagtatamo ng lingap ng Panginoon.

23 Ang dukha ay gumagamit ng mga pamanhik: nguni't ang mayaman ay sumasagot na may kagilasan.

24 Ang nagpaparami ng mga kaibigan ay sa kaniyang sariling kapahamakan: nguni't may kaibigan na mahigit kay sa isang kapatid.

18 Whoever (A)isolates himself seeks his own desire;
    he breaks out against all sound judgment.
A fool takes no pleasure in understanding,
    but only (B)in expressing his opinion.
When wickedness comes, contempt comes also,
    and with dishonor comes disgrace.
The words of a man's mouth are (C)deep waters;
    the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.
It is not good to (D)be partial to[a] the wicked
    or to (E)deprive the righteous of justice.
A fool's lips walk into a fight,
    and his mouth invites (F)a beating.
(G)A fool's mouth is his ruin,
    and his lips are a snare to his soul.
(H)The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels;
    they go down into (I)the inner parts of the body.
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

  1. Proverbs 18:5 Hebrew to lift the face of

18 Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom.

A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.

When the wicked cometh, then cometh also contempt, and with ignominy reproach.

The words of a man's mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook.

It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment.

A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes.

A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.

The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

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.