Proverbs 18
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1A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire; He rages against all wise judgment.1An unfriendly person pursues selfish ends and against all sound judgment starts quarrels.
2A fool has no delight in understanding, But in expressing his own heart.2Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions.
3When the wicked comes, contempt comes also; And with dishonor comes reproach.3When wickedness comes, so does contempt, and with shame comes reproach.
4The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters; The wellspring of wisdom is a flowing brook.4The words of the mouth are deep waters, but the fountain of wisdom is a rushing stream.
5It is not good to show partiality to the wicked, Or to overthrow the righteous in judgment.5It is not good to be partial to the wicked and so deprive the innocent of justice.
6A fool’s lips enter into contention, And his mouth calls for blows.6The lips of fools bring them strife, and their mouths invite a beating.
7A fool’s mouth is his destruction, And his lips are the snare of his soul.7The mouths of fools are their undoing, and their lips are a snare to their very lives.
8The words of a talebearer are like tasty trifles, And they go down into the inmost body.8The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts.
9He who is slothful in his work Is a brother to him who is a great destroyer.9One who is slack in his work is brother to one who destroys.
10The name of the LORD is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe.10The name of the LORD is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.
11The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, And like a high wall in his own esteem.11The wealth of the rich is their fortified city; they imagine it a wall too high to scale.
12Before destruction the heart of a man is haughty, And before honor is humility.12Before a downfall the heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor.
13He who answers a matter before he hears it, It is folly and shame to him.13To answer before listening-- that is folly and shame.
14The spirit of a man will sustain him in sickness, But who can bear a broken spirit?14The human spirit can endure in sickness, but a crushed spirit who can bear?
15The heart of the prudent acquires knowledge, And the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.15The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, for the ears of the wise seek it out.
16A man’s gift makes room for him, And brings him before great men.16A gift opens the way and ushers the giver into the presence of the great.
17The first one to plead his cause seems right, Until his neighbor comes and examines him.17In a lawsuit the first to speak seems right, until someone comes forward and cross-examines.
18Casting lots causes contentions to cease, And keeps the mighty apart.18Casting the lot settles disputes and keeps strong opponents apart.
19A brother offended is harder to win than a strong city, And contentions are like the bars of a castle.19A brother wronged is more unyielding than a fortified city; disputes are like the barred gates of a citadel.
20A man’s stomach shall be satisfied from the fruit of his mouth; From the produce of his lips he shall be filled.20From the fruit of their mouth a person's stomach is filled; with the harvest of their lips they are satisfied.
21Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.21The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
22He who finds a wife finds a good thing, And obtains favor from the LORD.22He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the LORD.
23The poor man uses entreaties, But the rich answers roughly.23The poor plead for mercy, but the rich answer harshly.
24A man who has friends must himself be friendly, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.24One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Proverbs 17
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