Proverbs 18:1-17

1 Unfriendly people are selfish and hate all good sense.

2 Fools do not want to understand anything. They only want to tell others what they think.

3 Do something evil, and people won't like you. Do something shameful, and they will make fun of you.

4 Spoken words can be like deep water, but wisdom is like a flowing stream.

5 It is not good to honor the wicked or to be unfair to the innocent.

6 The words of fools start quarrels. They make people want to beat them.

7 The words of fools will ruin them; their own words will trap them.

8 The words of a gossip are like tasty bits of food. People like to gobble them up.

9 A person who doesn't work hard is just like someone who destroys things.

10 The Lord is like a strong tower; those who do right can run to him for safety.

11 Rich people trust their wealth to protect them. They think it is like the high walls of a city.

12 Proud people will be ruined, but the humble will be honored.

13 Anyone who answers without listening is foolish and confused.

14 The will to live can get you through sickness, but no one can live with a broken spirit.

15 The mind of a person with understanding gets knowledge; the wise person listens to learn more.

16 Taking a gift to an important man will help get you in to see him.

17 The person who tells one side of a story seems right, until someone else comes and asks questions.