Proverbs 18:14-24

14 A man's spirit will endure sickness, but ¹a crushed spirit who can bear?

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

16 A man's ²gift 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.

18 ³The lot puts an end to quarrels and decides between powerful contenders.

19 A brother offended is more unyielding than a strong city, and quarreling is like the bars of a castle.

20 ⁴From the fruit of a man's mouth his stomach is satisfied; he is satisfied by the yield of his lips.

21 ⁵Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.

22 He who finds ⁶a wife finds ⁷a good thing and ⁸obtains favor ⁹from the LORD.

23 The poor use entreaties, but ¹⁰the rich answer roughly.

24 A man of many companions may come to ruin, but ¹¹there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Cross References

• 1. Proverbs 15:13
• 2. [Genesis 32:20; 1 Samuel 25:27]; See Proverbs 17:8
• 3. [Proverbs 16:33]
• 4. See Proverbs 12:14
• 5. Matthew 12:36, 37; [Proverbs 4:23; Proverbs 12:13]
• 6. Proverbs 12:4; Proverbs 19:14; See Proverbs 31:10-31
• 7. [Genesis 2:18]
• 8. Proverbs 8:35
• 9. Proverbs 19:14
• 10. [James 2:3, 6]
• 11. See Proverbs 17:17