Proverbs 18

¹ He that hath a mind to depart from a friend seeketh occasions: he shall ever be subject to reproach.

² A fool receiveth not the words of prudence: unless thou say those things which are in his heart.

³ The wicked man when he is come into the depth of sine, contemneth: but ignominy and reproach follow him.

⁴ Words from the mouth of a men are as deep water: and the fountain of wisdom as an overflowing stream.

⁵ It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to decline from the truth of judgment.

⁶ The lips of a fool intermeddle with strife: and his mouth provoketh quarrels.

⁷ The mouth of a fool is his destruction: and his lips are the ruin of his soul.

⁸ The words of the double tongued are as if they were harmless: and they reach even to the inner parts of the bowels. Fear casteth down the slothful: and the souls of the effeminate shall be hungry.

⁹ He that is loose and slack in his work, is the brother of him that wasteth his own works.

¹⁰ The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the just runneth to it, and shall be exalted.

¹¹ The substance of the rich man is the city of his strength, and as a strong wall compassing him about.

¹² Before destruction, the heart of a man is exalted: and before he be glorified, it is humbled.

¹³ He that answereth before he heareth sheweth himself to be a fool, and worthy of confusion.

¹⁴ The spirit of a man upholdeth his infirmity: but a spirit that is easily angered, who can bear?

¹⁵ A wise heart shall acquire knowledge: and the ear of the wise seeketh instruction.

¹⁶ A man's gift enlargeth his may, and maketh him room before princes.

¹⁷ The just is first accuser of himself: his friend cometh, and shall search him.

¹⁸ The lot suppresseth contentions, and determineth even between the mighty.

¹⁹ A brother that is helped by his brother, is like a strong city: and judgments are like the bars of cities.

²⁰ Of the fruit of a man's mouth shall his belly be satisfied: and the offspring of his lips shall fill him.

²¹ Death and life are in the power of the tongue: they that love it, shall eat the fruits thereof.

²² He that hath found a good wife, hath found a good thing, and shall receive a pleasure from the Lord. He that driveth away a good wife, driveth away a good thing: but he that keepeth an adulteress, is foolish and wicked.

²³ The poor will speak with supplications, and the rich will speak roughly.

²⁴ A man amiable in society, shall be more friendly than a brother.