Contrast the Upright and the Wicked
18 He who separates himself seeks his own desire,
He [a](A)quarrels against all sound wisdom.
2 A fool does not delight in understanding,
But only (B)in revealing his own [b]mind.
3 When a wicked man comes, contempt also comes,
And with dishonor comes scorn.
4 The words of a man’s mouth are (C)deep waters;
[c]The fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.
5 To (D)show partiality to the wicked is not good,
Nor to (E)thrust aside the righteous in judgment.
6 A fool’s lips [d]bring strife,
And his mouth calls for (F)blows.
7 A (G)fool’s mouth is his ruin,
And his lips are the snare of his soul.
8 The words of a whisperer are like dainty morsels,
And they go down into the [e]innermost parts of the body.
9 He also who is (H)slack in his work
(I)Is brother to him who destroys.
10 The (J)name of the Lord is a (K)strong tower;
The righteous runs into it and (L)is [f]safe.
11 A (M)rich man’s wealth is his strong city,
And like a high wall in his own imagination.
12 (N)Before destruction the heart of man is haughty,
But (O)humility goes before honor.
13 He who (P)gives an answer before he hears,
It is folly and shame to him.
14 The (Q)spirit of a man can endure his sickness,
But as for a (R)broken spirit who can bear it?
15 The [g](S)mind of the prudent acquires knowledge,
And the (T)ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
16 A man’s (U)gift makes room for him
And brings him before great men.
17 The first [h]to plead his case seems right,
Until [i]another comes and examines him.
18 The cast (V)lot puts an end to strife
And [j]decides between the mighty ones.
19 A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city,
And contentions are like the bars of a citadel.
20 With the [k](W)fruit of a man’s mouth his stomach will be satisfied;
(X)He will be satisfied with the product of his lips.
21 (Y)Death and life are in the [l]power of the tongue,
And those who love it will eat its (Z)fruit.
22 He who finds a (AA)wife finds a good thing
And (AB)obtains favor from the Lord.
23 The (AC)poor man utters supplications,
But the (AD)rich man (AE)answers roughly.
24 A man of too many friends comes to [m]ruin,
But there is (AF)a [n]friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 18:1 Lit breaks out
- Proverbs 18:2 Lit heart
- Proverbs 18:4 Or A bubbling brook, a fountain of wisdom
- Proverbs 18:6 Lit come with
- Proverbs 18:8 Lit chambers of the belly
- Proverbs 18:10 Lit set on high
- Proverbs 18:15 Lit heart
- Proverbs 18:17 Lit in his plea
- Proverbs 18:17 Lit his neighbor
- Proverbs 18:18 Lit makes a division
- Proverbs 18:20 I.e. speech
- Proverbs 18:21 Lit hand
- Proverbs 18:24 Lit be broken in pieces
- Proverbs 18:24 Or lover
Cross references
- Proverbs 18:1 : Prov 3:21; 8:14
- Proverbs 18:2 : Prov 12:23; 13:16; Eccl 10:3
- Proverbs 18:4 : Prov 20:5
- Proverbs 18:5 : Lev 19:15; Deut 1:17; 16:19; Ps 82:2; Prov 17:15; 24:23; 28:21
- Proverbs 18:5 : Ex 23:2, 6; Prov 17:26; 31:5; Mic 3:9
- Proverbs 18:6 : Prov 19:29
- Proverbs 18:7 : Ps 64:8; 140:9; Prov 10:14; 12:13; 13:3; Eccl 10:12
- Proverbs 18:9 : Prov 10:4
- Proverbs 18:9 : Prov 28:24
- Proverbs 18:10 : Ex 3:15
- Proverbs 18:10 : 2 Sam 22:2, 3, 33; Ps 18:2; 61:3; 91:2; 144:2
- Proverbs 18:10 : Prov 29:25
- Proverbs 18:11 : Prov 10:15
- Proverbs 18:12 : Prov 11:2; 16:18; 29:23
- Proverbs 18:12 : Prov 15:33
- Proverbs 18:13 : Prov 20:25; John 7:51
- Proverbs 18:14 : Prov 17:22
- Proverbs 18:14 : Prov 15:13
- Proverbs 18:15 : Prov 15:14; Eph 1:17
- Proverbs 18:15 : Prov 15:31
- Proverbs 18:16 : Gen 32:20; 1 Sam 25:27
- Proverbs 18:18 : Prov 16:33
- Proverbs 18:20 : Prov 12:14
- Proverbs 18:20 : Prov 14:14
- Proverbs 18:21 : Prov 12:13; 13:3; Matt 12:37
- Proverbs 18:21 : Prov 13:2; Is 3:10; Hos 10:13
- Proverbs 18:22 : Gen 2:18; Prov 12:4; 19:14; 31:10-31
- Proverbs 18:22 : Prov 8:35
- Proverbs 18:23 : Prov 19:7
- Proverbs 18:23 : James 2:3, 6
- Proverbs 18:23 : 1 Kin 12:13; 2 Chr 10:13
- Proverbs 18:24 : Prov 17:17; John 15:14, 15