Proverbs 18

¹ A man who isolates himself pursues selfishness,

² A fool has no delight in understanding,

³ When wickedness comes, contempt also comes,

⁴ The words of a man ’s mouth are like deep waters.

⁵ To be partial to the faces of the wicked is not good,

⁶ A fool ’s lips come into strife,

⁷ A fool ’s mouth is his destruction,

⁸ The words of a gossip are like dainty morsels:

⁹ One who is slack in his work

¹⁰ The LORD ’s name is a strong tower:

¹¹ The rich man ’s wealth is his strong city,

¹² Before destruction the heart of man is proud,

¹³ He who answers before he hears,

¹⁴ A man ’s spirit will sustain him in sickness, but a crushed spirit, who can bear?

¹⁵ The heart of the discerning gets knowledge.

¹⁶ A man ’s gift makes room for him,

¹⁷ He who pleads his cause first seems right — until another comes and questions him.

¹⁸ The lot settles disputes,

¹⁹ A brother offended is more difficult than a fortified city. Disputes are like the bars of a fortress.

²⁰ A man’s stomach is filled with the fruit of his mouth.

²¹ Death and life are in the power of the tongue; those who love it will eat its fruit.

²² Whoever finds a wife finds a good thing,

²³ The poor plead for mercy,

²⁴ A man of many companions may be ruined,