Proverbs 18 Parallel Bible Translations

Proverbs 18 ▼
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1 He that hath a mind to depart from a friend seeketh occasions: he shall ever be subject to reproach. Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment. An unfriendly person pursues selfish ends and against all sound judgment starts quarrels.
2 A fool receiveth not the words of prudence: unless thou say those things which are in his heart. A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion. Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions.
3 The wicked man when he is come into the depth of sins, contemneth: but ignominy and reproach follow him. When wickedness comes, contempt comes also, and with dishonor comes disgrace. When wickedness comes, so does contempt, and with shame comes reproach.
4 Words from the mouth of a men are as deep water: and the fountain of wisdom as an overflowing stream. The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters; the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook. The words of the mouth are deep waters, but the fountain of wisdom is a rushing stream.
5 It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to decline from the truth of judgment. It is not good to be partial to the wicked or to deprive the righteous of justice. It is not good to be partial to the wicked and so deprive the innocent of justice.
6 The lips of a fool intermeddle with strife: and his mouth provoketh quarrels. A fool’s lips walk into a fight, and his mouth invites a beating. The lips of fools bring them strife, and their mouths invite a beating.
7 The mouth of a fool is his destruction: and his lips are the ruin of his soul. A fool’s mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to his soul. The mouths of fools are their undoing, and their lips are a snare to their very lives.
8 The words of the double tongued are as if they were harmless: and they reach even to the inner parts of the bowels. Fear casteth down the slothful: and the souls of the effeminate shall be hungry. The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body. The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts.
9 He that is loose and slack in his work, is the brother of him that wasteth his own works. Whoever is slack in his work is a brother to him who destroys. One who is slack in his work is brother to one who destroys.
10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the just runneth to it, and shall be exalted. The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe. The name of the LORD is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.
11 The substance of the rich man is the city of his strength, and as a strong wall compassing him about. A rich man’s wealth is his strong city, and like a high wall in his imagination. The wealth of the rich is their fortified city; they imagine it a wall too high to scale.
12 Before destruction, the heart of a man is exalted: and before he be glorified, it is humbled. Before destruction a man’s heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor. Before a downfall the heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor.
13 He that answereth before he heareth sheweth himself to be a fool, and worthy of confusion. If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame. To answer before listening— that is folly and shame.
14 The spirit of a man upholdeth his infirmity: but a spirit that is easily angered, who can bear? A man’s spirit will endure sickness, but a crushed spirit who can bear? The human spirit can endure in sickness, but a crushed spirit who can bear?
15 A wise heart shall acquire knowledge: and the ear of the wise seeketh instruction. An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge. The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, for the ears of the wise seek it out.
16 A man's gift enlargeth his may, and maketh him room before princes. A man’s gift makes room for him and brings him before the great. A gift opens the way and ushers the giver into the presence of the great.
17 The just is first accuser of himself: his friend cometh, and shall search him. The one who states his case first seems right, until the other comes and examines him. In a lawsuit the first to speak seems right, until someone comes forward and cross-examines.
18 The lot suppresseth contentions, and determineth even between the mighty. The lot puts an end to quarrels and decides between powerful contenders. Casting the lot settles disputes and keeps strong opponents apart.
19 A brother that is helped by his brother, is like a strong city: and judgments are like the bars of cities. A brother offended is more unyielding than a strong city, and quarreling is like the bars of a castle. A brother wronged is more unyielding than a fortified city; disputes are like the barred gates of a citadel.
20 Of the fruit of a man's mouth shall his belly be satisfied: and the offspring of his lips shall fill him. From the fruit of a man’s mouth his stomach is satisfied; he is satisfied by the yield of his lips. From the fruit of their mouth a person’s stomach is filled; with the harvest of their lips they are satisfied.
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: they that love it, shall eat the fruits thereof. Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits. The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
22 He that hath found a good wife, hath found a good thing, and shall receive a pleasure from the Lord. He that driveth away a good wife, driveth away a good thing: but he that keepeth an adulteress, is foolish and wicked. He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the LORD. He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the LORD.
23 The poor will speak with supplications, and the rich will speak roughly. The poor use entreaties, but the rich answer roughly. The poor plead for mercy, but the rich answer harshly.
24 A man amiable in society, shall be more friendly than a brother. A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
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