ProverbsChapter 18

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¹A man who keeps to himself chases his own selfish wants.
He fights against all good sense. ²A fool does not enjoy understanding.
He only enjoys telling his own opinions. ³When a wicked man comes, scorn comes too.
And with shame comes disgrace. ⁴The words of a man's mouth are deep waters.
The fountain of wisdom is a bubbling stream. ⁵It is not good to take the side of the wicked.
It is not good to keep justice from the innocent. ⁶A fool's lips get him into fights.
His mouth asks for a beating. ⁷A fool's mouth ruins him.
His lips are a trap for his own soul. ⁸The words of a gossip are like tasty bites of food.
They go down deep inside a person. ⁹Whoever is lazy in his work
is a brother to the one who destroys. ¹⁰The name of the LORD is a strong tower.
Those who do right run to it and are safe. ¹¹A rich man's wealth is his walled city.
In his mind, it is like a high wall. ¹²Before a man falls, his heart is proud.
But humility comes before honor. ¹³Whoever answers before he listens
is foolish and brings shame on himself. ¹⁴A man's spirit can carry him through sickness.
But who can live with a crushed spirit? ¹⁵The heart of a wise person gains knowledge.
The ear of the wise looks for it. ¹⁶A man's gift opens doors for him.
It brings him in front of great people. ¹⁷The first one to tell his side seems right,
until another person comes and asks him hard questions. ¹⁸Casting lots ends fights.
It settles things between strong enemies. ¹⁹A brother who has been hurt is harder to win back than a walled city.
Fights are like the locked bars of a fortress. ²⁰A man's stomach is filled by the fruit of his mouth.
He is satisfied by the harvest of his lips. ²¹The tongue has the power of life and death.
Those who love to talk will eat what it produces. ²²He who finds a wife finds a good thing.
He receives favor from the LORD. ²³The poor man begs for mercy.
But the rich man answers in a harsh way. ²⁴A man with many friends may be ruined.
But there is a friend who stays closer than a brother.