Chapter 18
Proverbs
Verse 1Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire;he breaks out against all sound judgment.Verse 2A fool takes no pleasure in understanding,but only in expressing his opinion.Verse 3When wickedness comes, contempt comes also,and with dishonor comes disgrace.Verse 4The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters;the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.Verse 5It is not good to be partial to the wickedor to deprive the righteous of justice.Verse 6A fool’s lips walk into a fight,and his mouth invites a beating.Verse 7A fool’s mouth is his ruin,and his lips are a snare to his soul.Verse 8The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels;they go down into the inner parts of the body.Verse 9Whoever is slack in his workis a brother to him who destroys.Verse 10The name of the LORD is a strong tower;the righteous man runs into it and is safe.Verse 11A rich man’s wealth is his strong city,and like a high wall in his imagination.Verse 12Before destruction a man’s heart is haughty,but humility comes before honor.Verse 13If one gives an answer before he hears,it is his folly and shame.Verse 14A man’s spirit will endure sickness,but a crushed spirit who can bear?Verse 15An intelligent heart acquires knowledge,and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.Verse 16A man’s gift makes room for himand brings him before the great.Verse 17The one who states his case first seems right,until the other comes and examines him.Verse 18The lot puts an end to quarrelsand decides between powerful contenders.Verse 19A brother offended is more unyielding than a strong city,and quarreling is like the bars of a castle.Verse 20From the fruit of a man’s mouth his stomach is satisfied;he is satisfied by the yield of his lips.Verse 21Death and life are in the power of the tongue,and those who love it will eat its fruits.Verse 22He who finds a wife finds a good thingand obtains favor from the LORD.Verse 23The poor use entreaties,but the rich answer roughly.Verse 24A man of many companions may come to ruin,but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The ESV text may not be quoted in any publication made available to the public by a Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be translated into any other language.