Proverbs 18 Parallel Bible Translations

Proverbs 18 ▼
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New American Bible Revised
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English Standard Version
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1 One who is alienated seeks a pretext, with all persistence picks a quarrel. 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 Fools take no delight in understanding, but only in displaying what they think. 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 With wickedness comes contempt, and with disgrace, scorn. When wickedness comes, contempt comes also, and with dishonor comes disgrace. When wickedness comes, so does contempt, and with shame comes reproach.
4 The words of one’s mouth are deep waters, the spring of wisdom, a running brook. 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 favor the guilty, nor to reject the claim of the just. 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 fools walk into a fight, and their mouths are asking for a beating. 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 mouths of fools are their ruin; their lips are a deadly snare. 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 a talebearer are like dainty morsels: they sink into one’s inmost being. 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 Those slack in their work are kin to the destroyer. 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 run to it and are safe. 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 wealth of the rich is their strong city; they fancy it a high wall. 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 disaster the heart is haughty, but before honor is humility. 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 Whoever answers before listening, theirs is folly and shame. If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame. To answer before listening— that is folly and shame.
14 One’s spirit supports one when ill, but a broken spirit 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 The heart of the intelligent acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge. 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 Gifts clear the way for people, winning access to the great. 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 Those who plead the case first seem to be in the right; then the opponent comes and cross-examines them. 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 puts an end to disputes, and decides a controversy 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 offended is more unyielding than a stronghold; such strife is more daunting than castle gates. 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 With the fruit of one’s mouth one’s belly is filled, with the produce of one’s lips one is sated. 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; those who choose one shall eat its fruit. 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 To find a wife is to find happiness, a favor granted by the LORD. 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 implore, but the rich answer harshly. The poor use entreaties, but the rich answer roughly. The poor plead for mercy, but the rich answer harshly.
24 There are friends who bring ruin, but there are true friends more loyal 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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