Proverbs 18-19

Christian Standard Bible

18 One who isolates himself pursues selfish desires;
he rebels against all sound wisdom.

² A fool does not delight in understanding,
but only wants to show off his opinions.^[a](A)

³ When a wicked person comes, contempt also comes,
and along with dishonor, derision.

⁴ The words of a person’s mouth are deep waters,^(B)
a flowing river, a fountain of wisdom.^[b]

⁵ It is not good to show partiality to the guilty,^(C)
denying an innocent person justice.^(D)

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)

⁸ A gossip’s words are like choice food
that goes down to one’s innermost being.^[c](G)

⁹ The one who is lazy in his work
is brother to a vandal.^[d](H)

¹⁰ The name of the Lord is a strong tower;^(I)
the righteous run to it and are protected.^[e](J)

¹¹ The wealth of the rich is his fortified city;
in his imagination it is like a high wall.^(K)

¹² Before his downfall a person’s heart is proud,^(L)
but humility comes before honor.^(M)

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)

¹⁶ A person’s gift opens doors^[f] for him
and brings him before the great.^(Q)

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)

²² A man who finds a wife finds a good thing^(V)
and obtains favor from the Lord.^(W)

²³ The poor person pleads,^(X)
but the rich one answers roughly.^(Y)

²⁴ One with many friends may be harmed,^[h]
but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother.^(Z)

19 Better a poor person who lives with integrity^(AA)
than someone who has deceitful lips and is a fool.

² Even zeal is not good without knowledge,^(AB)
and the one who acts hastily^[i] sins.^(AC)

³ A person’s own foolishness leads him astray,
yet his heart rages against the Lord.^(AD)

⁴ Wealth attracts many friends,^(AE)
but a poor person is separated from his friend.

⁵ A false witness will not go unpunished,^(AF)
and one who utters lies will not escape.^(AG)

⁶ Many seek a ruler’s favor,^(AH)
and everyone is a friend of one who gives gifts.^(AI)

⁷ All the brothers of a poor person hate him;^(AJ)
how much more do his friends
keep their distance from him!
He may pursue them with words,^(AK)
but they are not there.^[j]

⁸ The one who acquires good sense^[k] loves himself;
one who safeguards understanding finds success.^(AL)

⁹ A false witness will not go unpunished,
and one who utters lies perishes.^(AM)

¹⁰ Luxury is not appropriate for a fool^(AN)—
how much less for a slave to rule over princes!^(AO)

¹¹ A person’s insight gives him patience,^(AP)
and his virtue is to overlook an offense.^(AQ)

¹² A king’s rage is like the roaring of a lion,^(AR)
but his favor is like dew on the grass.^(AS)

¹³ A foolish son is his father’s ruin,^(AT)
and a wife’s nagging is an endless dripping.^(AU)

¹⁴ A house and wealth are inherited from fathers,^(AV)
but a prudent wife is from the Lord.

¹⁵ Laziness induces deep sleep,
and a lazy person will go hungry.^(AW)

¹⁶ The one who keeps commands preserves himself;^(AX)
one who disregards^[l] his ways will die.^(AY)

¹⁷ Kindness to the poor is a loan to the Lord,^(AZ)
and he will give a reward to the lender.^[m](BA)

¹⁸ Discipline your son while there is hope;
don’t set your heart on being the cause of his death.^[n](BB)

¹⁹ A person with intense anger bears the penalty;
if you rescue him, you’ll have to do it again.^(BC)

²⁰ Listen to counsel and receive instruction
so that you may be wise later in life.^[o](BD)

²¹ Many plans are in a person’s heart,
but the Lord’s decree will prevail.^(BE)

²² What is desirable in a person is his fidelity;
better to be a poor person than a liar.^(BF)

²³ The fear of the Lord leads to life;
one will sleep at night^[p] without danger.^(BG)

²⁴ The slacker buries his hand in the bowl;
he doesn’t even bring it back to his mouth!^(BH)

²⁵ Strike a mocker, and the inexperienced learn a lesson;^(BI)
rebuke the discerning, and he gains knowledge.^(BJ)

²⁶ The one who plunders his father and evicts his mother
is a disgraceful and shameful son.

²⁷ If you stop listening to correction, my son,
you will stray from the words of knowledge.

²⁸ A worthless witness mocks justice,
and a wicked mouth swallows iniquity.^(BK)

²⁹ Judgments are prepared for mockers,
and beatings for the backs of fools.^(BL)