Proverbs 18:4-14

4 The words of a man's mouth are ¹deep waters; the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.

5 It is not good to ²be partial to^[a] the wicked or to ³deprive the righteous of justice.

6 A fool's lips walk into a fight, and his mouth invites ⁴a beating.

7 ⁵A fool's mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to his soul.

8 ⁶The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into ⁷the inner parts of the body.

9 Whoever is slack in his work is a ⁸brother to him who destroys.

10 ⁹The name of the LORD is ¹⁰a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and ¹¹is safe.

11 ¹²A rich man's wealth is his strong city, and like a high wall in his imagination.

12 ¹³Before destruction a man's heart is haughty, but ¹⁴humility comes before honor.

13 If one gives an answer ¹⁵before he hears, it is his folly and shame.

14 A man's spirit will endure sickness, but ¹⁶a crushed spirit who can bear?

Cross References

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

Footnotes

• [a]. Hebrew to lift the face of