18:1 One who has isolated himself1 seeks his own desires;2
he rejects3 all sound judgment.
18:2 A fool takes no pleasure4 in understanding
but only in disclosing5 what is on his mind.6
18:3 When a wicked person7 arrives, contempt8 shows up with him,
and with shame comes9 a reproach.
18:4 The words of a person’s mouth are like10 deep waters,11
and12 the fountain of wisdom13 is like14 a flowing brook.15
18:5 It is terrible16 to show partiality17 to the wicked,
by depriving18 a righteous man of justice.
18:6 The lips of a fool19 enter into strife,20
and his mouth invites21 a flogging.22
18:7 The mouth of a fool is his ruin,
and his lips are a snare for his life.23
18:8 The words of a gossip24 are like choice morsels;25
they go down into the person’s innermost being.26
18:9 The one who27 is slack28 in his work
is a brother29 to one who destroys.30
18:10 The name of the Lord31 is like32 a strong tower;33
the righteous person runs34 to it and is set safely on high.35
18:11 The wealth36 of a rich person is like37 a38 strong city,39
and it is like a high wall in his imagination.40
18:12 Before destruction the heart of a person is proud,41
but humility comes42 before honor.43
18:13 The one who gives an answer44 before he listens45—
that is his folly and his shame.46
18:14 A person’s spirit47 sustains him in sickness—
but who can bear48 a crushed spirit?49
18:15 The discerning person50 acquires knowledge,
and the wise person51 seeks52 knowledge.
18:16 A person’s gift53 makes room for him,
and leads him54 before great people.
18:17 The first to state his case55 seems56 right,
until his opponent57 comes58 and cross-examines him.59
18:18 A toss of a coin60 ends61 disputes,
and settles the issue62 between strong opponents.63
18:19 A relative offended64 is harder to reach than65 a strong city,
and disputes are like the bars of a fortified citadel.66
18:20 From the fruit of a person’s mouth67 his stomach is satisfied,68
with the product of his lips is he satisfied.
18:21 Death and life are in the power69 of the tongue,70
and those who love its use71 will eat its fruit.
18:22 The one who finds72 a wife finds what is enjoyable,73
and receives a pleasurable gift74 from the Lord.75
18:23 A poor person makes supplications,76
but a rich man answers harshly.77
18:24 A person who has friends78 may be harmed by them,79
but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.