Proverbs 18:1-17

1 Whoever ¹isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment.

2 A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only ²in expressing his opinion.

3 When wickedness comes, contempt comes also, and with dishonor comes disgrace.

4 The words of a man's mouth are ³deep waters; the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.

5 It is not good to ⁴be partial to^[a] the wicked or to ⁵deprive the righteous of justice.

6 A fool's lips walk into a fight, and his mouth invites ⁶a beating.

7 ⁷A fool's mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to his soul.

8 ⁸The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into ⁹the inner parts of the body.

9 Whoever is slack in his work is a ¹⁰brother to him who destroys.

10 ¹¹The name of the LORD is ¹²a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and ¹³is safe.

11 ¹⁴A rich man's wealth is his strong city, and like a high wall in his imagination.

12 ¹⁵Before destruction a man's heart is haughty, but ¹⁶humility comes before honor.

13 If one gives an answer ¹⁷before he hears, it is his folly and shame.

14 A man's spirit will endure sickness, but ¹⁸a crushed spirit who can bear?

15 An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.

16 A man's ¹⁹gift makes room for him and brings him before the great.

17 The one who states his case first seems right, until the other comes and examines him.

Images for Proverbs 18:1-17

1. [Jude 19]
2. Proverbs 13:16; [Ecclesiastes 10:3]
3. Proverbs 20:5
4. Proverbs 24:23; Proverbs 28:21; Leviticus 19:15; Deuteronomy 1:17; Psalms 82:2
5. See Proverbs 17:15
6. See Proverbs 19:29
7. Proverbs 10:14; Proverbs 12:13; Proverbs 13:3; Psalms 64:8; Psalms 140:9; Ecclesiastes 10:12
8. Proverbs 26:22; [Proverbs 16:28]
9. Proverbs 20:27
10. [Proverbs 28:24]
11. See Exodus 34:5-7
12. Psalms 61:3; [Psalms 18:2]; See 2 Samuel 22:3
13. [Psalms 20:1]
14. See Proverbs 10:15
15. See Proverbs 11:2
16. Proverbs 15:33
17. [John 7:51]
18. Proverbs 15:13
19. [Genesis 32:20; 1 Samuel 25:27]; See Proverbs 17:8

The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.