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Proverbs 18
American Standard Version
Proverbs 18
American Standard Version
18 He that separateth himself seeketh his own desire,
And [a]rageth against all sound wisdom.
2 A fool hath no delight in understanding,
But only that his heart may reveal itself.
3 When the wicked cometh, there cometh also contempt,
And with ignominy cometh reproach.
4 The words of a man’s mouth are as deep waters;
[b]The wellspring of wisdom is as a flowing brook.
5 To respect the person of the wicked is not good,
[c]Nor to turn aside the righteous in judgment.
6 A fool’s lips [d]enter into contention,
And his mouth calleth for stripes.
7 A fool’s mouth is his destruction,
And his lips are the snare of his soul.
8 The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels,
And they go down into the innermost parts.
9 He also that is slack in his work
Is brother to him that is a destroyer.
10 The name of Jehovah is a strong tower;
The righteous runneth into it, and [e]is safe.
11 The rich man’s wealth is his strong city,
And as a high wall in his own imagination.
12 Before destruction the heart of man is haughty;
And before honor goeth humility.
13 He that giveth answer before he heareth,
It is folly and shame unto him.
14 The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity;
But a broken spirit who can [f]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 pleadeth his cause first seemeth just;
But his neighbor cometh and searcheth him out.
18 The lot causeth contentions to cease,
And parteth between the mighty.
19 A brother [g]offended is harder to be won than a strong city;
And such contentions are like the bars of a castle.
20 A man’s belly shall be filled with the fruit of his mouth;
With the increase of his lips shall he be satisfied.
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 favor of Jehovah.
23 The poor useth entreaties;
But the rich answereth roughly.
24 [h]He that maketh many friends doeth it to his own destruction;
But there is a [i]friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 18:1 Or, quarrelleth with
- Proverbs 18:4 Or, A flowing brook, a wellspring of wisdom
- Proverbs 18:5 Or, So as to turn aside
- Proverbs 18:6 Or, bring contention
- Proverbs 18:10 Hebrew is set on high.
- Proverbs 18:14 Or, raise up
- Proverbs 18:19 Or, injured
- Proverbs 18:24 Hebrew A man of friends.
- Proverbs 18:24 Hebrew lover.
Proverbs 18
New International Version
Proverbs 18
New International Version
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)
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)
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)
American Standard Version (ASV)
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New International Version (NIV) 
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NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.