The chapter opens with the danger of unfriendly isolation: one who separates himself pursues selfish ends and rejects sound judgment. Fools do not delight in understanding but in airing their own opinions. Wickedness brings contempt, and shame accompanies disgrace. In contrast, the words of the mouth are deep waters, and the fountain of wisdom is a rushing stream.
1 A man who isolates himself pursues selfishness, and defies all sound judgment.
2 A fool has no delight in understanding, but only in revealing his own opinion.
Proverbs 18:3
3 When wickedness comes, contempt also comes, and with shame comes disgrace.
Proverbs 18:4
4 The words of a man’s mouth are like deep waters. The fountain of wisdom is like a flowing brook.
The chapter condemns partiality toward the wicked and denying justice to the innocent. Fools invite quarrels with their lips and beatings with their mouths. Their mouths are their undoing, and their lips become a snare to their lives. Gossip is compared to choice morsels that go down to the inmost parts. One who is slack in work is brother to one who destroys.
Proverbs 18:5
5 To be partial to the faces of the wicked is not good, nor to deprive the innocent of justice.
Proverbs 18:6
6 A fool’s lips come into strife, and his mouth invites beatings.
Proverbs 18:7
7 A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are a snare to his soul.
Proverbs 18:8
8 The words of a gossip are like dainty morsels: they go down into a person’s innermost parts.
Proverbs 18:9
9 One who is slack in his work is brother to him who is a master of destruction.
The name of the LORD is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe. The wealth of the rich is their fortified city, an imagined high wall. Before downfall the heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor. To answer before listening is folly and shame. The human spirit can endure sickness, but a crushed spirit is unbearable. The discerning heart acquires knowledge, and the ears of the wise seek it out.
Proverbs 18:10
10 Yahweh’s name is a strong tower: the righteous run to him, and are safe.
Proverbs 18:11
11 The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, like an unscalable wall in his own imagination.
Proverbs 18:12
12 Before destruction the heart of man is proud, but before honor is humility.
Proverbs 18:13
13 He who answers before he hears, that is folly and shame to him.
Proverbs 18:14
14 A man’s spirit will sustain him in sickness, but a crushed spirit, who can bear?
Proverbs 18:15
15 The heart of the discerning gets knowledge. The ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
A gift can open the way and bring a person before the great. In legal disputes, the first to present a case seems right until another comes forward and questions him. Casting the lot can settle disputes between powerful opponents. An offended brother is harder to win than a fortified city, and disputes are like barred gates of a citadel. From the fruit of the mouth a person's stomach is filled, and the harvest of the lips brings satisfaction. The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
Proverbs 18:16
16 A man’s gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men.
Proverbs 18:17
17 He who pleads his cause first seems right; until another comes and questions him.
Proverbs 18:18
18 The lot settles disputes, and keeps strong ones apart.
Proverbs 18:19
19 A brother offended is more difficult than a fortified city. Disputes are like the bars of a fortress.
Proverbs 18:20-21
20 A man’s stomach is filled with the fruit of his mouth. With the harvest of his lips he is satisfied.
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue; those who love it will eat its fruit.
The one who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the LORD. The poor plead for mercy, while the rich answer harshly. One who has unreliable companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Proverbs 18:22
22 Whoever finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor of Yahweh.
23 The poor plead for mercy, but the rich answer harshly.
24 A man of many companions may be ruined, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.