Proverbs 18:7-17

7 The mouth of a fool [is] ruin to him, and his lips [are] a snare to his soul.

8 The words of a whisper [are] like delicious morsels, and they themselves go down [to] inner parts of the body.

9 Even he who is slack in his work, he is brother to a master of destruction.

10 A tower of strength is the name of Yahweh; into him the righteous will run and be safe.

11 The wealth of the rich [is] {his strong city}, and like a wall, it is high in his imagination.

12 In the presence of destruction, the heart of a man will be haughty, but in the presence of honor, humble.

13 He who returns a word before he will hear, folly itself [belongs] to him as well as shame.

14 The spirit of a man will endure his sickness, but a broken spirit, who may bear it?

15 An intelligent {mind} will acquire knowledge, and the ear of the wise will seek knowledge.

16 The gift of a person will open doors for him, and before the great, it gives him access.

17 The first in his dispute is [deemed] righteous, [but] his neighbor will come and examine him.

Footnotes

• [a]. Or "life," or "inner self"
• [b]. Or "owner"
• [c]. Or "it"
• [d]. Literally "a city of his strength"
• [e]. Or "mind"
• [f]. Hebrew "and"
• [g]. Literally "heart"