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 (A)tower;
The righteous run to it and are [a]safe.
11 The rich man’s wealth is his strong city,
And like a high wall in his own esteem.

12 (B)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 (C)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 (D)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 (E)A man’s stomach shall be satisfied from the fruit of his mouth;
From the produce of his lips he shall be filled.

21 (F)Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
And those who love it will eat its fruit.

22 (G)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 (H)roughly.

24 A man who has friends [b]must himself be friendly,
(I)But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 18:10 secure, lit. set on high
  2. Proverbs 18:24 So with Gr. mss., Syr., Tg., Vg.; MT may come to ruin

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

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

11 The wealth of the rich is their fortified city;(D)
    they imagine it a wall too high to scale.

12 Before a downfall the heart is haughty,
    but humility comes before honor.(E)

13 To answer before listening—
    that is folly and shame.(F)

14 The human spirit can endure in sickness,
    but a crushed spirit who can bear?(G)

15 The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge,(H)
    for the ears of the wise seek it out.

16 A gift(I) 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(J)
    and keeps strong opponents apart.

19 A brother wronged(K) 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.(L)

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

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

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.(Q)

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