Proverbs 18:14-24

14 Your will to live can sustain you when you are sick, but if you lose it, your last hope is gone.
15 Intelligent people are always eager and ready to learn.
16 Do you want to meet an important person? Take a gift and it will be easy.
17 The first person to speak in court always seems right until his opponent begins to question him.
18 If two powerful people are opposing each other in court, casting lots can settle the issue.
19 Help your relatives and they will protect you like a strong city wall, but if you quarrel with them, they will close their doors to you.
20 You will have to live with the consequences of everything you say.
21 What you say can preserve life or destroy it; so you must accept the consequences of your words.
22 Find a wife and you find a good thing; it shows that the Lord is good to you. 1
23 When the poor speak, they have to be polite, but when the rich answer, they are rude.
24 Some friendships do not last, but some friends are more loyal than brothers.

Cross References 1

  • 1. +218.22Ben Sira 26.1-4.

Footnotes 2

  • [a]. [Some ancient translations] Help . . . wall; [Hebrew unclear.]
  • [b]. [Some ancient translations] Some friendships do; [Hebrew] Someone with friends does.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.