Contrast of the Upright and the Wicked
18 One who separates himself seeks his own desire;
He (A)quarrels against all sound wisdom.
2 A fool does not delight in understanding,
But (B)in revealing his own mind.
3 When a wicked person comes, contempt also comes,
And with dishonor comes taunting.
4 The words of a person’s mouth are (C)deep waters;
The fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.
5 To (D)show partiality to the wicked is not good,
Nor to (E)suppress the righteous in judgment.
6 A fool’s lips bring strife,
And his mouth invites (F)beatings.
7 A (G)fool’s mouth is his ruin,
And his lips are the snare of his soul.
8 The words of a gossiper are like dainty morsels,
And they go down into the innermost parts of the body.
9 He also who is (H)lax in his work
(I)Is a 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 safe.
11 A (M)rich person’s wealth is his strong city,
And like a high wall in his own imagination.
12 (N)Before destruction the heart of a person is haughty,
But (O)humility goes before honor.
13 One who (P)gives an answer before he hears,
It is foolishness and shame to him.
14 The (Q)spirit of a person can endure his sickness,
But as for a (R)broken spirit, who can endure it?
15 The (S)mind of the discerning acquires knowledge,
And the (T)ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
16 A person’s (U)gift makes room for him
And brings him before great people.
17 The first to plead his case seems right,
Until another comes and examines him.
18 The cast (V)lot puts an end to quarrels,
And decides between the mighty ones.
19 A brother who is offended is harder to be won than a strong city,
And quarrels are like the bars of a citadel.
20 With the (W)fruit of a person’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 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 A (AC)poor person utters pleadings,
But a (AD)rich person (AE)answers defiantly.
24 A person of too many friends comes to ruin,
But there is (AF)a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 18:1
- Proverbs 18:2
- Proverbs 18:4
- Proverbs 18:6
- Proverbs 18:8
- Proverbs 18:10
- Proverbs 18:15
- Proverbs 18:17
- Proverbs 18:17
- Proverbs 18:18
- Proverbs 18:20
- Proverbs 18:21
- Proverbs 18:24
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
