Proverbs 18

¹ In estrangement one seeks pretexts: with all persistence he picks a quarrel.

² The fool takes no delight in understanding, but rather in displaying what he thinks.

³ With wickedness comes contempt, and with disgrace comes scorn.

⁴ The words from a man's mouth are deep waters, but the source of wisdom is a flowing brook.

⁵ It is not good to be partial to the guilty, and so to reject a rightful claim.

⁶ The fool's lips lead him into strife, and his mouth provokes a beating.

⁷ The fool's mouth is his ruin; his lips are a snare to his life.

⁸ The words of a talebearer are like dainty morsels that sink into one's inmost being.

⁹ The man who is slack in his work is own brother to the man who is destructive.

¹⁰ The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the just man runs to it and is safe.

¹¹ The rich man's wealth is his strong city; he fancies it a high wall.

¹² Before his downfall a man's heart is haughty, but humility goes before honors.

¹³ He who answers before he hears-- his is the folly and the shame.

¹⁴ A man's spirit sustains him in infirmity-- but a broken spirit who can bear?

¹⁵ The mind of the intelligent gains knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.

¹⁶ A man's gift clears the way for him, and gains him access to great men.

¹⁷ The man who pleads his case first seems to be in the right; then his opponent comes and puts him to the test.

¹⁸ The lot puts an end to disputes, and is decisive in a controversy between the mighty.

¹⁹ A brother is a better defense than a strong city, and a friend is like the bars of a castle.

²⁰ From the fruit of his mouth a man has his fill; with the yield of his lips he sates himself.

²¹ Death and life are in the power of the tongue; those who make it a friend shall eat its fruit.

²² He who finds a wife finds happiness; it is a favor he receives from the LORD.

²³ The poor man implores, but the rich man answers harshly.

²⁴ Some friends bring ruin on us, but a true friend is more loyal than a brother.