Proverbs 18:2-22

2 A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only ¹in expressing his opinion.

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

4 The words of a man's mouth are ²deep waters; the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.

5 It is not good to ³be partial to^[a] the wicked or to ⁴deprive the righteous of justice.

6 A fool's lips walk into a fight, and his mouth invites ⁵a beating.

7 ⁶A fool's mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to his soul.

8 ⁷The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into ⁸the inner parts of the body.

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

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

11 ¹³A rich man's wealth is his strong city, and like a high wall in his imagination.

12 ¹⁴Before destruction a man's heart is haughty, but ¹⁵humility comes before honor.

13 If one gives an answer ¹⁶before he hears, it is his folly and shame.

14 A man's spirit will endure sickness, but ¹⁷a crushed spirit who can bear?

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

16 A man's ¹⁸gift 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 ¹⁹The 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 ²⁰From the fruit of a man's mouth his stomach is satisfied; he is satisfied by the yield of his lips.

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

22 He who finds ²²a wife finds ²³a good thing and ²⁴obtains favor ²⁵from the LORD.

Cross References

• 1. Proverbs 13:16; [Ecclesiastes 10:3]
• 2. Proverbs 20:5
• 3. Proverbs 24:23; Proverbs 28:21; Leviticus 19:15; Deuteronomy 1:17; Psalms 82:2
• 4. See Proverbs 17:15
• 5. See Proverbs 19:29
• 6. Proverbs 10:14; Proverbs 12:13; Proverbs 13:3; Psalms 64:8; Psalms 140:9; Ecclesiastes 10:12
• 7. Proverbs 26:22; [Proverbs 16:28]
• 8. Proverbs 20:27
• 9. [Proverbs 28:24]
• 10. See Exodus 34:5-7
• 11. Psalms 61:3; [Psalms 18:2]; See 2 Samuel 22:3
• 12. [Psalms 20:1]
• 13. See Proverbs 10:15
• 14. See Proverbs 11:2
• 15. Proverbs 15:33
• 16. [John 7:51]
• 17. Proverbs 15:13
• 18. [Genesis 32:20; 1 Samuel 25:27]; See Proverbs 17:8
• 19. [Proverbs 16:33]
• 20. See Proverbs 12:14
• 21. Matthew 12:36, 37; [Proverbs 4:23; Proverbs 12:13]
• 22. Proverbs 12:4; Proverbs 19:14; See Proverbs 31:10-31
• 23. [Genesis 2:18]
• 24. Proverbs 8:35
• 25. Proverbs 19:14

Footnotes

• [a]. Hebrew to lift the face of