Berean Standard Bible

Proverbs 18

The Selfishness of the Unfriendly

1He who isolates himselfH6504 pursuesH1245 selfish desiresH8378; he rebelsH1566 against allH3605 sound judgmentH8454.

2A foolH3684 does notH3808 delightH2654 in understandingH8394,but onlyH3588 H518 in airingH1540 his opinionsH3820.

3With a wickedH7563 man comesH935 contemptH937 as wellH1571 H935,and shameH7036 is accompanied byH5973 disgraceH2781.

4The wordsH1697 of a man’sH376 mouthH6310 are deepH6013 watersH4325;the fountainH4726 of wisdomH2451 is a bubblingH5042 brookH5158.

5Showing partialityH5375 1 to the wickedH6440 H7563 is notH3808 goodH2896,nor is deprivingH5186 the innocentH6662 of justiceH4941.

6A fool’sH3684 lipsH8193 bring himH935 strifeH7379,and his mouthH6310 invitesH7121 a beatingH4112.

7A fool’sH3684 mouthH6310 is his ruinH4288,and his lipsH8193 are a snareH4170 to his soulH5315.

8The wordsH1697 of a gossipH7279 are like choice morselsH3859thatH1992 go downH3381 into the inmost beingH2315 H990.

9WhoeverH1571 is slothfulH7503 in his workH4399is brotherH251 H1931 to himH1167 who destroysH4889.

10The nameH8034 of the LORDH3068 is a strongH5797 towerH4026;the righteousH6662 runH7323 to it2 and are safeH7682.

11A richH6223 man’s wealthH1952 is his fortifiedH5797 cityH7151;it is like a highH7682 wallH2346 in his imaginationH4906.

12BeforeH6440 his downfallH7667 a man’sH376 heartH3820 is proudH1361,but humilityH6038 comes beforeH6440 honorH3519.

13He who answersH7725 a matterH1697 beforeH2962 he hearsH8085 it—thisH1931 is follyH200 and disgraceH3639 to him.

14The spiritH7307 of a manH376 can endureH3557 his sicknessH4245,but whoH4310 can surviveH5375 a brokenH5218 spiritH7307?

15The heartH3820 of the discerningH995 acquiresH7069 knowledgeH1847,and the earH241 of the wiseH2450 seeksH1245 it outH1847.

16A man’sH120 giftH4976 opens doorsH7337 for him,and brings himH5148 beforeH6440 great menH1419.

17The firstH7223 to state his caseH7379 seems rightH6662until anotherH7453 comesH935 and cross-examines himH2713.

18Casting the lotH1486 H996 endsH7673 quarrelsH4079and separatesH6504 strong opponentsH6099.

19An offendedH6586 brotherH251 is harder to win than a fortifiedH5797 cityH7151,and disputesH4066 are like the barsH1280 of a castleH759.

20From the fruitH6529 of his mouthH6310 a man’sH376 bellyH990 is filledH7646;with the harvestH8393 from his lipsH8193 he is satisfiedH7646.

21LifeH2416 and deathH4194 are in the powerH3027 of the tongueH3956,and those who loveH157 it will eatH398 its fruitH6529.

22He who findsH4672 a wifeH802 findsH4672 a good thingH2896and obtainsH6329 favorH7522 from the LORDH3068.

23The poor manH7326 pleads for mercyH8469 H1696,but the rich manH6223 answersH6030 harshlyH5794.

24A manH376 of many companionsH7453 may come to ruinH7489,but there isH3426 a friendH157 who stays closerH1695 than a brotherH251.