Proverbs 18

1Whoever separates himself from others pursues selfish desires, and rebels against all sound judgment.

2A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing a fool's own opinions.

3When wickedness comes, contempt comes too, and with shame comes scorn.

4The words of a person's mouth are like deep waters, and the fountain of wisdom is like a flowing brook.

5It is not good to favor the guilty and deprive the innocent of justice.

6A fool's lips lead to arguments, and a fool's mouth invites a beating.

7A fool's mouth is a fool's ruin, and a fool's lips are a trap for a fool's own life.

8The words of a gossip are like delicious food; they go down to the innermost parts of the body.

9Whoever is lazy in work is a close relative to someone who destroys.

10The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run into it and are safe.

11The wealth of the rich is the rich person's strong city; the rich person imagines it as a high wall.

12Before destruction a person's heart is proud, but humility comes before honor.

13Whoever answers before listening — that is foolish and shameful.

14A person's spirit can carry that person through sickness, but who can bear a broken spirit?

15A sensible mind gains knowledge, and the ears of the wise seek knowledge.

16A gift opens doors for the giver and brings the giver before important people.

17The first person to speak in a dispute seems right, until someone else comes and cross-examines that first person.

18Casting the lot settles arguments and keeps strong opponents apart.

19An offended family member is harder to win back than a fortified city, and disputes between family members are like the barred gates of a fortress.

20A person's stomach is filled by the fruit of that person's mouth; that person is satisfied by the harvest of that person's own lips.

21Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and whoever loves talking will eat the fruit that talking produces.

22Whoever finds a wife finds a good thing, and receives favor from the LORD.

23The poor person pleads, but the rich person answers harshly.

24Some friendships lead only to ruin, but a friend can stick closer than a brother.