Proverbs 18 Parallel Bible Translations

Proverbs 18 ▼
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1 He separating himself will seek according to desire; he will be irritated with every purpose. 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 The foolish one will not delight in understanding, but in, the disclosings of 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 In the coming of the unjust also came contempt, and with dishonor, reproach. When wickedness comes, contempt comes also, and with dishonor comes disgrace. When wickedness comes, so does contempt, and with shame comes reproach.
4 Deep waters are the words of man's mouth, the fountain of wisdom a gushing 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 To lift up the face of the unjust one is not good; to turn aside the just one in 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 the foolish one will come into contention, and his mouth will call for blows. 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 the foolish is destruction to him, and his lips the snare 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 tale-bearer as dainty morsels, and they will go down to the chambers of the belly. 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 Also he being slothful in his work, he the brother of the master of destruction. 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 Jehovah a tower of strength: into it the just one shall run and 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 rich one's wealth his strong city, and as a wall lifted up in his imagination. 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 a breaking a man's heart will be lifted up, and before honor, 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 He turning back the word before he shall hear it, is folly and shame to him. 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 man will sustain his disease; and a dejected spirit who shall lift up? 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 him understanding will obtain knowledge and the ear of the wise will seek 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 The gift of a man will enlarge to him, and shall conduct him before 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 The first one just in his cause; his neighbor will come and 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 will cause contentions to cease, and will separate between the strong, 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 falling away, above a city of strength; and strifes as the bars of a fortress. 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 From the fruit of a man's mouth his belly shall be filled; and he shall be filled with the increase of his lips. 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 in the hand of the tongue: and they loving it 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 He finding a wife found good, and shall obtain acceptance from Jehovah. 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 one will speak supplications; and the rich one will answer with vehemence. The poor use entreaties, but the rich answer roughly. The poor plead for mercy, but the rich answer harshly.
24 A man of friends for making friendship: and there is love attaching more 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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