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The Proverbs

⭑ Literal Standard Version :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

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- Chapter 18 -

The words of the wise and the foolish

1
He who is separated seeks [his own] desire, || He interferes with all wisdom.
2
A fool does not delight in understanding, || But in uncovering his heart.
3
Contempt has also come with the coming of the wicked, || And with shame—reproach.
4
The words of a man’s mouth [are] deep waters, || The fountain of wisdom [is] a flowing brook.
5
Favoring of the face of the wicked [is] not good, || To turn aside the righteous in judgment.
6
The lips of a fool enter into strife, || And his mouth calls for stripes.
7
The mouth of a fool [is] ruin to him, || And his lips [are] the snare of his soul.
8
The words of a tale-bearer [are] as self-inflicted wounds, || And they have gone down [to] the inner parts of the heart.
9
He also that is remiss in his work, || He [is] a brother to a destroyer.
10
The Name of YHWH [is] a tower of strength, || The righteous runs into it, and is set on high.
11
The wealth of the rich [is] the city of his strength, || And as a wall set on high in his own imagination.
12
The heart of man is high before destruction, || And humility [is] before honor.
13
Whoever is answering a matter before he hears, || It is folly to him—and shame.
14
The spirit of a man sustains his sickness, || And who bears a struck spirit?
15
The heart of the intelligent gets knowledge, || And the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
16
The gift of a man makes room for him, || And it leads him before the great.
17
The first in his own cause [seems] righteous, || [But] his neighbor comes and has searched him.
18
The lot causes contentions to cease, || And it separates between the mighty.
19
A brother transgressed against is as a strong city, || And contentions as the bar of a palace.
20
From the fruit of a man’s mouth is his belly satisfied, || [From the] increase of his lips he is satisfied.
21
Death and life [are] in the power of the tongue, || And those loving it eat its fruit.
22
[Whoever] has found a wife has found good, || And brings out goodwill from YHWH.
23
The poor speaks [with] supplications, || And the rich answers fierce things.
24
A man with friends—to show himself friendly, || And there is a lover adhering more than a brother!
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The words of the wise and the foolish

1
A man who isolates himself pursues selfishness, and defies all sound judgment.
2
A fool has no delight in understanding, but only in revealing his own opinion.
3
When wickedness comes, contempt also comes, and with shame comes disgrace.
4
The words of a man’s mouth are like deep waters. The fountain of wisdom is like a flowing brook.
5
To be partial to the faces of the wicked is not good, nor to deprive the innocent of justice.
6
A fool’s lips come into strife, and his mouth invites beatings.
7
A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are a snare to his soul.
8
The words of a gossip are like dainty morsels: they go down into a person’s innermost parts.
9
One who is slack in his work is brother to him who is a master of destruction.
10
The LORD’s name is a strong tower: the righteous run to him, and are safe.
11
The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, like an unscalable wall in his own imagination.
12
Before destruction the heart of man is proud, but before honor is humility.
13
He who answers before he hears, that is folly and shame to him.
14
A man’s spirit will sustain him in sickness, but a crushed spirit, who can bear?
15
The heart of the discerning gets knowledge. The ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
16
A man’s gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men.
17
He who pleads his cause first seems right— until another comes and questions him.
18
The lot settles disputes, and keeps strong ones apart.
19
A brother offended is more difficult than a fortified city. Disputes are like the bars of a fortress.
20
A man’s stomach is filled with the fruit of his mouth. With the harvest of his lips he is satisfied.
21
Death and life are in the power of the tongue; those who love it will eat its fruit.
22
Whoever finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor of the LORD.
23
The poor plead for mercy, but the rich answer harshly.
24
A man of many companions may be ruined, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
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