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Proverbs 18

A man who separates himself follows his own desire and meddles with every kind of wisdom. A fool has no delight in understanding; he only wants to reveal what's in his own heart. When the wicked come, contempt comes too, and with dishonour comes disgrace. The words of a man's mouth are deep waters, and the fountain of wisdom is a flowing

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Words and the tongue

A man who separates himself follows his own desire and meddles with every kind of wisdom. A fool has no delight in understanding; he only wants to reveal what's in his own heart. When the wicked come, contempt comes too, and with dishonour comes disgrace. The words of a man's mouth are deep waters, and the fountain of wisdom is a flowing brook. It isn't good to show favour to the wicked or overthrow the righteous in judgment. A fool's lips enter into arguing, and his mouth calls for blows. A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are a snare to his soul. The words of a talebearer are like wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly. Whoever is lazy in his work is brother to a great destroyer. The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run into it and are safe. A rich man's wealth is his strong city, and in his imagination it's a high wall. Before destruction a man's heart is arrogant, and before honour comes humility.

A man who cuts himself off looks for what he wants and fights against all sound wisdom. A fool takes no delight in understanding, but only in showing what's in his own heart. When the wicked comes, then comes contempt too, and with shame comes disgrace. The words of a man's mouth are like deep waters, and the well of wisdom like a flowing brook. It isn't good to take the side of the wicked, or to overturn the righteous in judgment. A fool's lips come into fighting, and his mouth calls for blows. A fool's mouth is his ruin, and his lips are the snare of his soul. The words of a whisperer are like tasty bits, and they go down into the deepest parts of the belly. The one who's lazy in his work is brother to a great waster. The name of the Lord is a strong tower. The righteous runs into it and is safe. The rich man's wealth is his strong town, and like a high wall in his own thinking. Before ruin a man's heart is proud, and before honour is humility.

Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom. A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself. When the wicked cometh, then cometh also contempt, and with ignominy reproach. The words of a man’s mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook. It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment. A fool’s lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes. A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul. The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly. He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster. The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe. The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, and as an high wall in his own conceit. Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.

1

A man who separates himself follows his own desire and meddles with every kind of wisdom.

Plain English

A man who cuts himself off looks for what he wants and fights against all sound wisdom.

King James Version, 1611

Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom.

2

A fool has no delight in understanding; he only wants to reveal what's in his own heart.

Plain English

A fool takes no delight in understanding, but only in showing what's in his own heart.

King James Version, 1611

A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.

3

When the wicked come, contempt comes too, and with dishonour comes disgrace.

Plain English

When the wicked comes, then comes contempt too, and with shame comes disgrace.

King James Version, 1611

When the wicked cometh, then cometh also contempt, and with ignominy reproach.

4

The words of a man's mouth are deep waters, and the fountain of wisdom is a flowing brook.

Plain English

The words of a man's mouth are like deep waters, and the well of wisdom like a flowing brook.

King James Version, 1611

The words of a man’s mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook.

5

It isn't good to show favour to the wicked or overthrow the righteous in judgment.

Plain English

It isn't good to take the side of the wicked, or to overturn the righteous in judgment.

King James Version, 1611

It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment.

6

A fool's lips enter into arguing, and his mouth calls for blows.

Plain English

A fool's lips come into fighting, and his mouth calls for blows.

King James Version, 1611

A fool’s lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes.

7

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

Plain English

A fool's mouth is his ruin, and his lips are the snare of his soul.

King James Version, 1611

A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.

8

The words of a talebearer are like wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

Plain English

The words of a whisperer are like tasty bits, and they go down into the deepest parts of the belly.

King James Version, 1611

The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

9

Whoever is lazy in his work is brother to a great destroyer.

Plain English

The one who's lazy in his work is brother to a great waster.

King James Version, 1611

He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.

10

The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run into it and are safe.

Plain English

The name of the Lord is a strong tower. The righteous runs into it and is safe.

King James Version, 1611

The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.

11

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

Plain English

The rich man's wealth is his strong town, and like a high wall in his own thinking.

King James Version, 1611

The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, and as an high wall in his own conceit.

12

Before destruction a man's heart is arrogant, and before honour comes humility.

Plain English

Before ruin a man's heart is proud, and before honour is humility.

King James Version, 1611

Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.

Death and life in the tongue

Whoever answers a matter before hearing it brings folly and shame on himself. A man's spirit can sustain him through sickness, but who can bear a wounded spirit? The heart of the sensible gains knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge. A man's gift makes room for him and brings him before great men. The first person to state his case seems right, until his neighbour comes and examines him. Casting lots brings contentions to an end and decides between the mighty. A brother who has been offended is harder to win than a strong city, and disputes are like the bars of a castle. A man's belly is filled with the fruit of his mouth; he is satisfied by the produce of his lips. Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit. Whoever finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favour from the LORD. The poor man pleads for mercy, but the rich man answers roughly. A man who has friends must show himself friendly, and there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

The one who answers a matter before he hears it — it's folly and shame to him. The spirit of a man will hold him up in his sickness, but who can bear a broken spirit? The heart of the careful gets knowledge, and the ear of the wise looks for knowledge. A man's gift makes room for him and brings him in front of great men. The one who's first in his own case seems right, but his neighbour comes and searches him out. Casting the lot makes arguing stop and settles it between the mighty. A brother wronged is harder to win than a strong town, and their arguing is like the bars of a castle. A man's belly will be filled with the fruit of his mouth. He'll be filled with the increase of his lips. Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and the ones who love it will eat its fruit. Whoever finds a wife finds a good thing and gets favour from the Lord. The poor speaks with pleading, but the rich answers roughly. A man who's got mates has to be a mate himself. And there's a mate who sticks closer than a brother.

He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him. The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear? The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge. A man’s gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men. He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him. The lot causeth contentions to cease, and parteth between the mighty. A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle. A man’s belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled. Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD. The poor useth intreaties; but the rich answereth roughly. A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

13

Whoever answers a matter before hearing it brings folly and shame on himself.

Plain English

The one who answers a matter before he hears it — it's folly and shame to him.

King James Version, 1611

He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.

14

A man's spirit can sustain him through sickness, but who can bear a wounded spirit?

Plain English

The spirit of a man will hold him up in his sickness, but who can bear a broken spirit?

King James Version, 1611

The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?

15

The heart of the sensible gains knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.

Plain English

The heart of the careful gets knowledge, and the ear of the wise looks for knowledge.

King James Version, 1611

The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.

16

A man's gift makes room for him and brings him before great men.

Plain English

A man's gift makes room for him and brings him in front of great men.

King James Version, 1611

A man’s gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.

17

The first person to state his case seems right, until his neighbour comes and examines him.

Plain English

The one who's first in his own case seems right, but his neighbour comes and searches him out.

King James Version, 1611

He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him.

18

Casting lots brings contentions to an end and decides between the mighty.

Plain English

Casting the lot makes arguing stop and settles it between the mighty.

King James Version, 1611

The lot causeth contentions to cease, and parteth between the mighty.

19

A brother who has been offended is harder to win than a strong city, and disputes are like the bars of a castle.

Plain English

A brother wronged is harder to win than a strong town, and their arguing is like the bars of a castle.

King James Version, 1611

A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.

20

A man's belly is filled with the fruit of his mouth; he is satisfied by the produce of his lips.

Plain English

A man's belly will be filled with the fruit of his mouth. He'll be filled with the increase of his lips.

King James Version, 1611

A man’s belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.

21

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

Plain English

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and the ones who love it will eat its fruit.

King James Version, 1611

Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

22

Whoever finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favour from the LORD.

Plain English

Whoever finds a wife finds a good thing and gets favour from the Lord.

King James Version, 1611

Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.

23

The poor man pleads for mercy, but the rich man answers roughly.

Plain English

The poor speaks with pleading, but the rich answers roughly.

King James Version, 1611

The poor useth intreaties; but the rich answereth roughly.

24

A man who has friends must show himself friendly, and there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Plain English

A man who's got mates has to be a mate himself. And there's a mate who sticks closer than a brother.

King James Version, 1611

A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.