18
1A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire;
He rages against all wise judgment.
2A fool has no delight in understanding,
But in expressing his ⚓own heart.
3When the wicked comes, contempt comes also;
And with dishonor comes reproach.
4⚓The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters;
⚓The wellspring of wisdom is a flowing brook.
5It is not good to show partiality to the wicked,
Or to overthrow the righteous in ⚓judgment.
6A fool’s lips enter into contention,
And his mouth calls for blows.
7⚓A fool’s mouth is his destruction,
And his lips are the snare of his ⚓soul.
8⚓The words of a talebearer are like tasty trifles,
And they go down into the inmost body.
9He who is slothful in his work
Is a brother to him who is a great destroyer.
10The name of the Lordis a strong ⚓tower;
The righteous run to it and are safe.
11The rich man’s wealth is his strong city,
And like a high wall in his own esteem.
12⚓Before destruction the heart of a man is haughty,
And before honor is humility.
13He who answers a matter before he hears it,
It is folly and shame to him.
14The spirit of a man will sustain him in sickness,
But who can bear a broken spirit?
15The heart of the prudent acquires knowledge,
And the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
16⚓A man’s gift makes room for him,
And brings him before great men.
17The first one to plead his cause seems right,
Until his neighbor comes and examines him.
18Casting ⚓lots causes contentions to cease,
And keeps the mighty apart.
19A brother offended is harder to win than a strong city,
And contentions are like the bars of a castle.
20⚓A man’s stomach shall be satisfied from the fruit of his mouth;
From the produce of his lips he shall be filled.
21⚓Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
And those who love it will eat its fruit.
22⚓He who finds a wife finds a good thing,
And obtains favor from the Lord.
23The poor man uses entreaties,
But the rich answers ⚓roughly.
24A man who has friends must himself be friendly,
⚓But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
18
1孤僻的人只顾自己的心愿⚓，
他鄙视一切健全的知识。
2愚昧人不喜爱聪明，
只喜爱表达自己的心意。
3邪恶来，藐视跟着来；
羞耻到，辱骂同时到。
4人的口所讲的话如同深水，
智慧之泉如涌流的河水。
5偏袒恶人的情面，是不好的。
审判时使义人受屈，也是不善。
6愚昧人的嘴唇挑起争端，
一开口就招鞭打。
7愚昧人的口自取败坏，
他的嘴唇是自己生命的圈套。
8造谣者的话如同美食，
深入人的肚腹。
9做工懈怠的，
是破坏者的兄弟。
10耶和华的名是坚固台，
义人奔入就得安稳。
11有钱人的财物是他坚固的城，
在他幻想中，犹如高墙。
12败坏之先，人心骄傲；
要得尊荣，先有谦卑。
13未听完就回话的，
就是他的愚昧和羞辱。
14人的心灵忍耐疾病；
心灵忧伤，谁能承当呢？
15聪明人的心得知识；
智慧人的耳求知识。
16人的礼物为他开路，
引他到高位的人面前。
17先诉情由的，似乎有理；
另一人来到，就察出实情。
18掣签能止息纷争，
也能化解双方激烈的争辩。
19被冒犯的弟兄⚓强如难以攻下的坚城；
纷争如同城堡的门闩。
20人的肚腹必因口所结的果实饱足；
他必因嘴唇所出的感到满足。
21生死在舌头的掌握之下，
喜爱弄舌的，必吃它所结的果实。
22得着妻子的，得着好处，
他是蒙了耶和华的恩惠。
23穷乏人说哀求的话；
有钱人却用威吓的话回答。
24朋友太多的人，必受损害⚓；
但有一知己比兄弟更亲密。