Proverbs Chapter 18
From The Open Bible Project
18:1 An unfriendly man pursues selfishness, and defies all sound judgment.
- (a) He who loves wisdom will separate himself from all impediments, and give himself wholly to seek it.
18:2 A fool has no delight in understanding, but only in revealing his own opinion.
- (b) That is, that he may talk licentiously of whatever comes to mind.
18:3 When wickedness comes, contempt also comes, and with shame comes disgrace.
- (c) Meaning, such a one as condemns all others.
18:4 The words of a man's mouth are like deep waters. The fountain of wisdom is like a flowing brook.
- (d) Which can never be drawn empty, but always bring profit.
18:5 To be partial to the faces of the wicked is not good, nor to deprive the innocent of justice.
- (e) That is, to favour him and support him.
18:6 A fool's lips come into strife, and his mouth invites beatings.
18:7 A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are a snare to his soul.
18:8 The words of a gossip are like dainty morsels: they go down into a person's innermost parts.
- (f) They are soon believed and enter most deeply.
18:9 One who is slack in his work is brother to him who is a master of destruction.
18:10 The name of Yahweh is a strong tower: the righteous run to him, and are safe.
- (g) He shows the refuge of the godly against all trouble.
18:11 The rich man's wealth is his strong city, like an unscalable wall in his own imagination.
18:12 Before destruction the heart of man is proud, but before honor is humility.
18:13 He who gives answer before he hears, that is folly and shame to him.
18:14 A man's spirit will sustain him in sickness, but a crushed spirit, who can bear?
- (h) The mind can well bear the infirmity of the body, but when the spirit is wounded, it is hard to sustain.
18:15 The heart of the discerning gets knowledge. The ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
18:16 A man's gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men.
- (i) Gets him liberty to speak, and the favour of them that are esteemed.
18:17 He who pleads his cause first seems right; until another comes and questions him.
- (k) He who speaks first, is best heard from the wicked judge, but when his adversary enquires out the matter it turns to his shame.
18:18 The lot settles disputes, and keeps strong ones apart.
- (l) If a controversy cannot otherwise be decided, it is best to cast lots to know whose the thing will be.
- (m) Appeases their controversy, who are so stout that they cannot otherwise be pacified.
18:19 A brother offended is more difficult than a fortified city; and disputes are like the bars of a castle.
- (n) Which for the strength of it will not bow or yield.
18:20 A man's stomach is filled with the fruit of his mouth. With the harvest of his lips he is satisfied.
18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue; those who love it will eat its fruit.
- (o) By the using the tongue well or evil, comes the fruit of it either good or bad.
18:22 Whoever finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor of Yahweh.
- (p) He who is joined with a virtuous woman in marriage is blessed by the Lord, as in (Proverbs 19:14).
18:23 The poor plead for mercy, but the rich answer harshly.
18:24 A man of many companions may be ruined, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
- (q) That is, often such are found who are more ready to do pleasure, than he that is more bound by duty.
