Provérbios 18
Særlingen søger et påskud, med vold og magt vil han strid.
Tåben ynder ej Indsigt, men kun, at hans Tanker kommer for Lyset.
Hvor Gudløshed kommer, kommer og Spot, Skam og Skændsel følges.
Ord i Mands Mund er dybe Vande, en rindende Bæk, en Visdomskilde.
Det er ilde at give en skyldig Medhold, så man afviser skyldfris Sag i Retten.
Tåbens Læber fører til Trætte, hans Mund råber højt efter Hug,
Tåbens Mund er hans Våde, hans Læber en Snare for hans Liv.
Bagtalerens Ord er som Lækkerbidskener, de synker dybt i Bugen.
Den, der er efterladen i Gerning, er også Broder til Ødeland.
HERRENs Navn er et stærkt Tårn, den retfærdige løber derhen og bjærges.
Den riges Gods er hans faste Stad, og tykkes ham en knejsende Mur.
Mands Hovmod går forud for Fald, Ydmyghed forud for Ære.
Om nogen svarer, førend han hører, regnes det ham til Dårskab og Skændsel.
Mands Mod udholder Sygdom, men hvo kan bære en sønderbrudt Ånd?
Den forstandiges Hjerte vinder sig Kundskab, de vises Øre attrår Kundskab.
Gaver åbner et Menneske Vej og fører ham hen til de store.
Den, der taler først i en Trætte har Ret, til den anden kommer og går ham efter.
Loddet gør Ende på Trætter og skiller de stærkeste ad.
Krænket Broder er som en Fæstning, Trætter som Portslå for Borg.
Mands Bug mættes af Mundens Frugt, han mættes af Læbernes Grøde.
Død og Liv er i Tungens Vold, hvo der tøjler den, nyder dens Frugt.
Fandt man en Hustru, fandt man Lykken og modtog Nåde fra HERREN.
Fattigmand beder og trygler, Rigmand svarer med hårde Ord.
Med mange Fæller kan Mand gå til Grunde, men Ven kan overgå Broder i Troskab.
Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh {and} intermeddleth with all wisdom. {Through...: or, He that separateth himself seeketh according to his desire, and intermeddleth in every business}
A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.
When the wicked cometh, {then} cometh also contempt, and with ignominy reproach.
The words of a man's mouth {are as} deep waters, {and} the wellspring of wisdom {as} a flowing brook.
{It is} not good to accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment.
A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes.
A fool's mouth {is} his destruction, and his lips {are} the snare of his soul.
The words of a talebearer {are} as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly. {talebearer: or, whisperer} {as wounds: or, like as when men are wounded} {most...: Heb. chambers}
He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.
The name of the LORD {is} a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe. {safe: Heb. set aloft}
The rich man's wealth {is} his strong city, and as an high wall in his own conceit.
Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour {is} humility.
He that answereth a matter before he heareth {it}, it {is} folly and shame unto him. {answereth...: Heb. returneth a word}
The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?
The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.
A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.
{He that is} first in his own cause {seemeth} just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him.
The lot causeth contentions to cease, and parteth between the mighty.
A brother offended {is harder to be won} than a strong city: and {their} contentions {are} like the bars of a castle.
A man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; {and} with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.
Death and life {are} in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
{Whoso} findeth a wife findeth a good {thing}, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.
The poor useth intreaties; but the rich answereth roughly.
A man {that hath} friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend {that} sticketh closer than a brother.