Proverbs 18 - Evangelical Heritage Version - 2021（EHV）

1A person who is a loner seeks his own desires.

He fights against all sound judgment.

2A fool finds no pleasure in understanding,

but only in revealing his own opinions.

3When a wicked person comes, contempt comes with him,

and with dishonor comes disgrace.

4The words from a man's mouth are deep waters.

The fountain of wisdom is a flowing stream.

5It is not good to show favoritism to a wicked person

in order to deprive a righteous person of justice.

6A fool's lips enter a fight,

and his mouth invites a beating.

7A fool's mouth is his destruction,

and his lips are a trap for his soul.

8The words of a gossip are like delicious food.

People gobble them right down.

9A person who fails to do his work

is a brother to a vandal.

10The name of the Lord is a strong tower.

A righteous person runs inside and is protected.

11A rich person's wealth is his strong city.

In his imagination it is like a high wall.

12Before destruction a man's heart is proud,

but humility comes before honor.

13If a person answers before he listens,

that is foolishness that brings disgrace.

14A man's spirit can endure illness,

but who can bear a broken spirit?

15A discerning heart acquires knowledge,

and the ears of the wise seek knowledge.

16A person's gift opens doors for him.

It leads him into the presence of great people.

17The first person to state his case appears to be right.

Then his neighbor comes and cross-examines him.

18Casting lots ends disputes and decides between powerful people.

19A brother who has been wronged is harder to regain than a strong city,

and disputes are like a bar across the gate of a citadel.

20From the fruit of a man's mouth, his stomach is satisfied.

He is satisfied with the harvest of his lips.

21Life and death lie in the power of a tongue,

and those who love to use it will eat its fruit.

22The man who finds a wife finds a good thing,

and he obtains favor from the Lord.

23A poor man pleads for mercy,

but a rich man answers harshly.

24A man with many acquaintances may suffer harm,

but there is a loving friend who sticks closer than a brother.