Proverbs 18 :: New American Standard Bible 2020 (NASB20)

Contrast of the Upright and the Wicked

1 One who separates ^H6504 himself seeks ^H1245 his own desire ^H8378;

He [fn]quarrels ^H1566 against all ^H3605 sound ^H8454 wisdom ^H8454.

2 A fool ^H3684 does not delight ^H2654 in understanding ^H8394,

But in revealing ^H1540 his own [fn]mind ^H3820.

3 When a wicked ^H7563 person ^H7563 comes ^H935, contempt ^H937 also ^H1571 comes ^H935,

And with dishonor ^H7036 comes taunting ^H2781.

4 The words ^H1697 of a person’s ^H376 mouth ^H6310 are deep ^H6013 waters ^H4325;

[fn]The fountain ^H4726 of wisdom ^H2451 is a bubbling ^H5042 brook ^H5158.

5 To show ^H5375 partiality ^H5375 H6440 to the wicked ^H7563 is not good ^H2896,

Nor to suppress ^H5186 the righteous ^H6662 in judgment ^H4941.

6 A fool’s ^H3684 lips ^H8193 [fn]bring ^H935 strife ^H7379,

And his mouth ^H6310 invites ^H7121 beatings ^H4112.

7 A fool’s ^H3684 mouth ^H6310 is his ruin ^H4288,

And his lips ^H8193 are the snare ^H4170 of his soul ^H5315.

8 The words ^H1697 of a gossiper ^H7279 are like dainty ^H3859 morsels ^H3859,

And they go ^H3381 down ^H3381 into the [fn]innermost ^H2315 parts ^H2315 of the body ^H990.

9 He also ^H1571 who is lax ^H7503 in his work ^H4399

Is a brother ^H251 to him who destroys ^H7843.

10 The name ^H8034 of the LORD ^H3068 is a strong ^H5797 tower ^H4026;

The righteous ^H6662 runs ^H7323 into it and is ^H7682 [fn]safe ^H7682.

11 A rich ^H6223 person’s ^H6223 wealth ^H1952 is his strong ^H5797 city ^H7151,

And like a high ^H7682 wall ^H2346 in his own imagination ^H4906.

12 Before ^H6440 destruction ^H7667 the heart ^H3820 of a person ^H376 is ^H1361 haughty ^H1361,

But humility ^H6038 goes before ^H6440 honor ^H3519.

13 One who gives ^H7725 an answer ^H1697 before ^H2962 he hears ^H8085,

It is foolishness ^H200 and shame ^H3639 to him.

14 The spirit ^H7307 of a person ^H376 can endure ^H3557 his sickness ^H4245,

But as for a broken ^H5218 spirit ^H7307, who ^H4310 can endure ^H5375 it?

15 The [fn]mind ^H3820 of the discerning ^H995 acquires ^H7069 knowledge ^H1847,

And the ear ^H241 of the wise ^H2450 seeks ^H1245 knowledge ^H1847.

16 A person’s ^H120 gift ^H4976 makes ^H7337 room ^H7337 for him

And brings ^H5148 him before ^H6440 great ^H1419 people ^H1419.

17 The first ^H7223 [fn]to plead ^H7379 his case ^H7379 seems right ^H6662,

Until [fn]another ^H7453 comes ^H935 and examines ^H2713 him.

18 The cast lot ^H1486 puts ^H7673 an ^H7673 end ^H7673 to ^H7673 quarrels ^H4066,

And [fn]decides ^H6504 between ^H996 the mighty ^H6099 ones.

19 A brother ^H251 who is offended ^H6586 is harder to be won than ^H4480 a strong ^H5797 city ^H7151,

And quarrels ^H4066 are like the bars ^H1280 of a citadel ^H759.

20 With the [fn]fruit ^H6529 of a person’s ^H376 mouth ^H6310 his stomach ^H990 will be ^H7646 satisfied ^H7646;

He will be ^H7646 satisfied ^H7646 with the product ^H8393 of his lips ^H8193.

21 Death ^H4194 and life ^H2416 are in the [fn]power ^H3027 of the tongue ^H3956,

And those who love ^H157 it will eat ^H398 its fruit ^H6529.

22 He who finds ^H4672 a wife ^H802 finds ^H4672 a good ^H2896 thing ^H2896

And obtains ^H6329 favor ^H7522 from the LORD ^H3068.

23 A poor ^H7326 person ^H7326 utters ^H1696 pleadings ^H8469,

But a rich ^H6223 person ^H6223 answers ^H6030 defiantly ^H5794.

24 A person ^H376 of too many friends ^H7453 comes to [fn]ruin ^H7489,

But there ^H3426 is ^H3426 a friend ^H157 who ^H1695 sticks ^H1695 closer than ^H4480 a brother ^H251.