Proverbs 18

Contrast of the Upright and the Wicked

1One who separatesH6504 himself seeksH1245 his own desireH8378; He 12quarrelsH1566 against allH3605 soundH8454 wisdomH8454.2A foolH3684 does not delightH2654 in understandingH8394, But 3in revealingH1540 his own 4mindH3820.3When a wickedH7563 personH7563 comesH935, contemptH937 alsoH1571 comesH935, And with dishonorH7036 comes tauntingH2781.4The wordsH1697 of a person’sH376 mouthH6310 are 5deepH6013 watersH4325; 6The fountainH4726 of wisdomH2451 is a bubblingH5042 brookH5158.5To 7showH5375 partialityH5375H6440 to the wickedH7563 is not goodH2896, Nor to 8suppressH5186 the righteousH6662 in judgmentH4941.6A fool’sH3684 lipsH8193 9bringH935 strifeH7379, And his mouthH6310 invitesH7121 10beatingsH4112.7A 11fool’sH3684 mouthH6310 is his ruinH4288, And his lipsH8193 are the snareH4170 of his soulH5315.8The wordsH1697 of a gossiperH7279 are like daintyH3859 morselsH3859, And they goH3381 downH3381 into the 12innermostH2315 partsH2315 of the bodyH990.9He alsoH1571 who is 13laxH7503 in his workH4399 14Is a brotherH251 to him who destroysH7843.10The 15nameH8034 of the LordH3068 is a 16strongH5797 towerH4026; The righteousH6662 runsH7323 into it and 17isH7682 18safeH7682.11A 19richH6223 person’sH6223 wealthH1952 is his strongH5797 cityH7151, And like a highH7682 wallH2346 in his own imaginationH4906.1220BeforeH6440 destructionH7667 the heartH3820 of a personH376 isH1361 haughtyH1361, But 21humilityH6038 goes beforeH6440 honorH3519.13One who 22givesH7725 an answerH1697 beforeH2962 he hearsH8085, It is foolishnessH200 and shameH3639 to him.14The 23spiritH7307 of a personH376 can endureH3557 his sicknessH4245, But as for a 24brokenH5218 spiritH7307, whoH4310 can endureH5375 it?15The 2526mindH3820 of the discerningH995 acquiresH7069 knowledgeH1847, And the 27earH241 of the wiseH2450 seeksH1245 knowledgeH1847.16A person’sH120 28giftH4976 makesH7337 roomH7337 for him And bringsH5148 him beforeH6440 greatH1419 peopleH1419.17The firstH7223 29to pleadH7379 his caseH7379 seems rightH6662, Until 30anotherH7453 comesH935 and examinesH2713 him.18The cast 31lotH1486 putsH7673 anH7673 endH7673 toH7673 quarrelsH4066, And 32decidesH6504 betweenH996 the mightyH6099 ones.19A brotherH251 who is offendedH6586 is harder to be won thanH4480 a strongH5797 cityH7151, And quarrelsH4066 are like the barsH1280 of a citadelH759.20With the 3334fruitH6529 of a person’sH376 mouthH6310 his stomachH990 will beH7646 satisfiedH7646; 35He will beH7646 satisfiedH7646 with the productH8393 of his lipsH8193.2136DeathH4194 and lifeH2425 are in the 37powerH3027 of the tongueH3956, And those who loveH157 it will eatH398 its 38fruitH6529.22He who findsH4672 a 39wifeH802 findsH4672 a goodH2896 thingH2896 And 40obtainsH6329 favorH7522 from the LordH3068.23A 41poorH7326 personH7326 uttersH1696 pleadingsH8469, But a 42richH6223 personH6223 43answersH6030 defiantlyH5794.24A personH376 of too many friendsH7453 comes to 44ruinH7489, But thereH3426 isH3426 45a friendH157 whoH1695 sticksH1695 closer thanH4480 a brotherH251.