18 People who do not have any friends think only about themselves.
They refuse to listen to good advice.
2 A fool does not try to understand what is right.
He only likes to tell people his own ideas.
3 When a wicked person arrives, shame comes with him.
And shame causes people to speak against you.
4 The words that you speak are like the deep water of the sea.
If they are wise words, they are like a cool stream.
5 Do not refuse to punish wicked people. That would not be good.
Also, do not punish anyone who has not done anything wrong.
6 When a fool speaks, he starts an argument.
He is asking for someone to beat him with a stick.
7 When a fool speaks, he is destroying himself.
His own words are a trap that catches him.
8 We love to hear other people's secrets.
They seem like good food that we can enjoy.
9 A lazy person is as bad as someone who destroys things.
10 The name of the Lord is like a strong tower.
Righteous people can run there, and then they will be safe.
11 Rich people think that their money makes them safe,
like high, strong walls round a city.
12 If you become proud, something will soon destroy you.
But if you are humble, you will soon receive honour.
13 Listen carefully before you answer.
If you answer too quickly, you will be ashamed like a fool.
14 When someone is ill, his spirit will keep him strong.
But if his spirit has lost hope, he cannot stay strong.
15 Wise people are always learning something new.
16 A gift will give you a chance to meet new people.
Important people may become your friends.
17 You will always believe the first person to speak in court,
until the other person starts to ask him questions.
18 If two powerful people have an argument,
you may have to throw dice to decide who is right.
19 If you insult a relative,
it will be difficult to become friends with him again.
Arguments keep people apart,
like the walls of a strong city.
20 If you speak words that help people,
they are like good food.
21 Words have the power to bring life or death.
So be careful if you talk a lot!
22 If you find a wife, you find a good thing.
The Lord has given you something to enjoy.
23 A poor person has to ask for help.
But a rich person can insult people.
24 A man with many friends may lose them.
But there is a friend who is more faithful than a brother.
18 Some people like to do things their own way, and they get upset when people give them advice.
2 Fools don’t want to learn from others. They only want to tell their own ideas.
3 Do something evil, and people will hate you. Do something shameful, and they will have no respect for you.
4 Words from wise people are like water bubbling up from a deep well—the well of wisdom.
5 You must be fair in judging others. It is wrong to favor the guilty and rob the innocent of justice.
6 Fools say things to start arguments. They are just asking for a beating.
7 Fools hurt themselves when they speak. Their own words trap them.
8 People love to hear gossip. It is like tasty food on its way to the stomach.
9 Someone who does careless work is as bad as someone who destroys things.
10 The name of the Lord is like a strong tower. Those who do what is right can run to him for protection.
11 The rich think their wealth will protect them. They think it is a strong fortress.
12 A proud person will soon be ruined, but a humble person will be honored.
13 Let people finish speaking before you try to answer them. That way you will not embarrass yourself and look foolish.
14 A good attitude will support you when you are sick, but if you give up, nothing can help. [ a ]
15 Wise people want to learn more, so they listen closely to gain knowledge.
16 Gifts can open many doors and help you meet important people.
17 The first person to speak always seems right until someone comes and asks the right questions.
18 The best way to settle an argument between two powerful people may be to use lots.
19 An insulted brother is harder to win back than a city with strong walls. Arguments separate people like the strong bars of a palace gate.
20 Your words can be as satisfying as fruit, as pleasing as the food that fills your stomach.
21 The tongue can speak words that bring life or death. Those who love to talk must be ready to accept what it brings.
22 If you find a wife, you have found something good. She shows that the Lord is happy with you.
23 The poor are polite when they beg for help. The rich are rude with their answer.
24 Some friends are fun to be with, [ b ] but a true friend can be better than a brother.
18 Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom.
2 A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.
3 When the wicked cometh, then cometh also contempt, and with ignominy reproach.
4 The words of a man's mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook.
5 It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment.
6 A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes.
7 A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.
8 The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
9 He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.
10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.
11 The rich man's wealth is his strong city, and as an high wall in his own conceit.
12 Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.
13 He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.
14 The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?
15 The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.
16 A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.
17 He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him.
18 The lot causeth contentions to cease, and parteth between the mighty.
19 A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.
20 A man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
22 Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the Lord .
23 The poor useth intreaties; but the rich answereth roughly.
24 A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
18 One who separates himself seeks his own desire;
He [ a ] ( A ) quarrels against all sound wisdom.
2 A fool does not delight in understanding,
But ( B ) in revealing his own [ b ] 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;
[ c ] 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 [ d ] 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 [ e ] 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 [ f ] 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 [ g ] ( 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 [ h ] to plead his case seems right,
Until [ i ] another comes and examines him.
18 The cast ( V ) lot puts an end to quarrels,
And [ j ] 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 [ k ] ( 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 [ l ] 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 [ m ] ruin,
But there is ( AF ) a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
18 An unfriendly person pursues selfish ends
and against all sound judgment starts quarrels.
2 Fools find no pleasure in understanding
but delight in airing their own opinions. ( A )
3 When wickedness comes, so does contempt,
and with shame comes reproach.
4 The words of the mouth are deep waters, ( B )
but the fountain of wisdom is a rushing stream.
6 The lips of fools bring them strife,
and their mouths invite a beating. ( E )
7 The mouths of fools are their undoing,
and their lips are a snare ( F ) to their very lives. ( G )
8 The words of a gossip are like choice morsels;
they go down to the inmost parts. ( H )
9 One who is slack in his work
is brother to one who destroys. ( I )
11 The wealth of the rich is their fortified city; ( L )
they imagine it a wall too high to scale.
12 Before a downfall the heart is haughty,
but humility comes before honor. ( M )
13 To answer before listening—
that is folly and shame. ( N )
14 The human spirit can endure in sickness,
but a crushed spirit who can bear? ( O )
15 The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, ( P )
for the ears of the wise seek it out.
16 A gift ( Q ) opens the way
and ushers the giver into the presence of the great.
17 In a lawsuit the first to speak seems right,
until someone comes forward and cross-examines.
18 Casting the lot settles disputes ( R )
and keeps strong opponents apart.
19 A brother wronged ( S ) is more unyielding than a fortified city;
disputes are like the barred gates of a citadel.
20 From the fruit of their mouth a person’s stomach is filled;
with the harvest of their lips they are satisfied. ( T )
21 The tongue has the power of life and death, ( U )
and those who love it will eat its fruit. ( V )
23 The poor plead for mercy,
but the rich answer harshly.
24 One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin,
but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. ( Y )
