1 One who separates himself seeks his own desire;

He *18:1 Lit breaks outquarrels against all sound wisdom.

2 A fool does not delight in understanding,

But in revealing his own *18:2 Lit heartmind.

3 When a wicked person comes, contempt also comes,

And with dishonor comes taunting.

4 The words of a person’s mouth are deep waters;

* 18:4 Or A bubbling brook, a fountain of wisdom The fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.

5 To show partiality to the wicked is not good,

Nor to suppress the righteous in judgment.

6 A fool’s lips *18:6 Lit come withbring strife,

And his mouth invites beatings.

7 A fool’s mouth is his ruin,

And his lips are the snare of his soul.

8 The words of a gossiper are like dainty morsels,

And they go down into the *18:8 Lit chambers of the bellyinnermost parts of the body.

9 He also who is lax in his work

Is a brother to him who destroys.

10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower;

The righteous runs into it and is *18:10 Lit set on highsafe.

11 A rich person’s wealth is his strong city,

And like a high wall in his own imagination.

12 Before destruction the heart of a person is haughty,

But humility goes before honor.

13 One who gives an answer before he hears,

It is foolishness and shame to him.

14 The spirit of a person can endure his sickness,

But as for a broken spirit, who can endure it?

15 The *18:15 Lit heartmind of the discerning acquires knowledge,

And the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.

16 A person’s gift makes room for him

And brings him before great people.

17 The first *18:17 Lit in his pleato plead his case seems right,

Until*18:17 Lit his neighboranother comes and examines him.

18 The cast lot puts an end to quarrels,

And *18:18 Lit makes a divisiondecides between the mighty ones.

19 A brother who is offended is harder to be won than a strong city,

And quarrels are like the bars of a citadel.

20 With the *18:20 I.e., speechfruit of a person’s mouth his stomach will be satisfied;

He will be satisfied with the product of his lips.

21 Death and life are in the *18:21 Lit handpower of the tongue,

And those who love it will eat its fruit.

22 He who finds a wife finds a good thing

And obtains favor from the Lord.

23 A poor person utters pleadings,

But a rich person answers defiantly.

24 A person of too many friends comes to *18:24 Lit be broken in piecesruin,

But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.