Proverbs 18 Parallel Bible Translations

Proverbs 18 ▼
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English Standard Version
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1 Unfriendly people care only about themselves; they lash out at common sense. 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 have no interest in understanding; they only want to air their own opinions. 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 Doing wrong leads to disgrace, and scandalous behavior brings contempt. When wickedness comes, contempt comes also, and with dishonor comes disgrace. When wickedness comes, so does contempt, and with shame comes reproach.
4 Wise words are like deep waters; wisdom flows from the wise like a bubbling 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 right to acquit the guilty or deny justice to the innocent. 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 Fools’ words get them into constant quarrels; they 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; they trap themselves with their lips. 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 Rumors are dainty morsels that sink deep into one’s heart. 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 A lazy person is as bad as someone who destroys things. 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 fortress; the godly run to him 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 rich think of their wealth as a strong defense; they imagine it to be a high wall of safety. 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 Haughtiness goes before destruction; humility precedes honor. 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 Spouting off before listening to the facts is both shameful and foolish. 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 human spirit can endure a sick body, but who can bear a crushed spirit? 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 Intelligent people are always ready to learn. Their ears are open for 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 Giving a gift can open doors; it gives access to important people! 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 first to speak in court sounds right— until the cross-examination begins. 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 Flipping a coin can end arguments; it settles disputes between powerful opponents. The lot puts an end to quarrels and decides between powerful contenders. Casting the lot settles disputes and keeps strong opponents apart.
19 An offended friend is harder to win back than a fortified city. Arguments separate friends like a gate locked with bars. 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 Wise words satisfy like a good meal; the right words bring satisfaction. 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 The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences. 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 The man who finds a wife finds a treasure, and he receives favor from 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 plead for mercy; the rich answer with insults. The poor use entreaties, but the rich answer roughly. The poor plead for mercy, but the rich answer harshly.
24 There are “friends” who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer 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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