Proverbs 18
1 The one separating himself seeks his own desire, against all sound wisdom he breaks out.
2 A fool does not delight in understanding, but rather in uncovering his heart.
3 With the coming of the wicked also comes contempt, and with shame, reproach.
4 The words of the mouth of a man [are] deep waters; the fountain of wisdom [is] a flowing brook.
5 To lift up the face to a wicked one [is] not good—to overthrow a righteous one in the judgment.
6 The lips of a fool enter into strife, and his mouth calls for blows.
7 The mouth of a fool [is] ruin to him, and his lips [are] a snare to his soul.
8 The words of a whisperer [are] like things to be gulped, and they go down into the chambers of the belly.
9 The one being slack in his work, he [is] also a brother to a lord of destruction.
10 A tower of strength [is] the name of YHWH—to it a righteous one runs and is set on high.
11 The wealth of the rich one [is] the city of his strength, and like a wall set high in his imagination.
12 Before the face of destruction, the heart of a man is exalted, and before honor [is] humility.
13 The one returning a word before he hears, it [is] folly to him and disgrace.
14 The spirit of a man will sustain him in his sickness, and a stricken spirit—who can bear it?
15 The heart of an understanding one acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise ones seeks knowledge.
16 The gift of a man makes room for him, and it leads him before the face of great ones.
17 The first in his dispute [seems] right, until his neighbor comes and examines him.
18 The lot makes quarrels cease, and it separates between mighty ones.
19 A brother transgressed [is] as a city of strength, and quarrels [are] like the gate bar of a citadel.
20 From the fruit of the mouth of a man, his belly is satisfied; with the produce of his lips he is satisfied.
21 Death and life [are] in the hand of the tongue, and those loving it will eat its fruit.
22 He who has found a wife has found good, and he obtains favor from YHWH.
23 [With] supplications the poor one speaks, and a rich one answers fiercely.
24 A man of companions may come to ruin, and there is a lover adhering more than a brother.