Proverbs 18 - New American Standard Bible 1995 with Strong Numbers

Contrast the Upright and the Wicked

¹ He who separateshimself seeks[his own] desire,He quarrelsagainst allsoundwisdom.

² A fooldoes not delightin understanding,But onlyin revealinghis own mind.

³ When a wickedmancomes,contemptalsocomes,And with dishonor[comes] scorn.

⁴ The wordsof a man'smouthare deepwaters;The fountainof wisdomis a bubblingbrook.

⁵ To showpartialityto the wickedis not good,[Nor] to thrustasidethe righteousin judgment.

⁶ A fool'slipsbringstrife,And his mouthcallsfor blows.

⁷ A fool'smouthis his ruin,And his lipsare the snareof his soul.

⁸ The wordsof a whispererare like daintymorsels,And they godowninto the innermostpartsof the body.

⁹ He alsowho is slackin his workIs brotherto him who destroys.

¹⁰ The nameof the LORDis a strongtower;The righteousrunsinto it and is safe.

¹¹ A richman'swealthis his strongcity,And like a highwallin his own imagination.

¹² Beforedestructionthe heartof manis haughty,But humility[goes] beforehonor.

¹³ He who givesan answerbeforehe hears,It is follyand shameto him.

¹⁴ The spiritof a mancan endurehis sickness,But [as for] a brokenspiritwhocan bearit?

¹⁵ The mindof the prudentacquiresknowledge,And the earof the wiseseeksknowledge.

¹⁶ A man'sgiftmakesroomfor him And bringshim beforegreatmen.

¹⁷ The firstto pleadhis case[seems] right,[Until] anothercomesand examineshim.

¹⁸ The [cast] lotputsan endto strifeAnd decidesbetweenthe mightyones.

¹⁹ A brotheroffended[is harder to be won] thana strongcity,And contentionsare like the barsof a citadel.

²⁰ With the fruitof a man'smouthhis stomachwill be satisfied;He will be satisfied[with] the productof his lips.

²¹ Deathand lifeare in the powerof the tongue,And those who loveit will eatits fruit.

²² He who findsa wifefindsa goodthingAnd obtainsfavorfrom the LORD.

²³ The poormanutterssupplications,But the richmananswersroughly.

²⁴ A manof [too many] friends[comes] to ruin,But thereis a friendwhostickscloserthana brother.