Proverbs 18

¹ A man who wisheth to separate from friends seeketh excuses;

but at all times he will be liable to reproach.

² A senseless man feeleth no need of wisdom,

for he is rather led by folly.

³ When an ungodly man cometh into a depth of evils, he despiseth them;

but dishonour and reproach come upon him.

⁴ A word in the heart of a man is a deep water,

and a river and fountain of life spring forth.

⁵ It is not good to accept the person of the ungodly,

nor is it holy to pervert justice in judgment.

⁶ The lips of a fool bring him into troubles,

and his bold mouth calleth for death.

⁷ A fool’s mouth is ruin to him,

and his lips are a snare to his soul.

⁸ Fear casteth down the slothful;

and the souls of the effeminate shall hunger.

⁹ A man who helpeth not himself by his labour

is brother of him that ruineth himself.

¹⁰ The name of the Lord is of great strength;

and the righteous ^[1]running to it are exalted.

¹¹ The wealth of a rich man is a strong city;

and its glory casteth a broad shadow.

¹² Before ruin a man’s heart is exalted,

and before honour it is humble.

¹³ Whoso answereth a word before he heareth a cause,

it is folly and reproach to him.

¹⁴ A wise servant calmeth a man’s anger;

but who can endure a faint-hearted man?

¹⁵ The heart of the sensible man purchaseth discretion;

and the ears of the wise seek understanding.

¹⁶ A man’s gift ^[2]enlargeth him,

and seateth him among princes.

¹⁷ A righteous man accuseth himself at the beginning of his speech,

but ^[3]when he hath entered upon the attack, the adversary is reproved.

¹⁸ A silent man quelleth strifes,

and determineth between great powers.

¹⁹ A brother helped by a brother is as a strong and high city;

and is as strong as a well-founded palace.

²⁰ A man filleth his belly with the fruits of his mouth;

and he shall be satisfied with the fruits of his lips.

²¹ Life and death are in the power of the tongue;

and they that rule it shall eat the fruits thereof.

²² He that hath found a good wife hath found favours,

and hath received gladness from God.

^{22a [4]}He that putteth away a good wife, putteth away a ^[5]good thing,

and he that keepeth an adulteress is foolish and ungodly.

Notes

1. 18:10 running: Gr. having run ↩
2. 18:16 enlargeth him: see Ps. 118:32 ↩
3. 18:17 when he hath entered: compare Mark 14:72 and margin, with 2 Tim. 4:14–17 ↩
4. 18:22a Heb. omits this verse ↩
5. 18:22a good thing: Gr. plural ↩