Proverbs 18:11-24 - Compare All Versions

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The wealth of the rich is their fortified city; they imagine it a wall too high to scale. Before a downfall the heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor. To answer before listening— that is folly and shame. The human spirit can endure in sickness, but a crushed spirit who can bear? The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, for the ears of the wise seek it out. A gift opens the way and ushers the giver into the presence of the great. In a lawsuit the first to speak seems right, until someone comes forward and cross-examines. Casting the lot settles disputes and keeps strong opponents apart. A brother wronged is more unyielding than a fortified city; disputes are like the barred gates of a citadel. From the fruit of their mouth a person’s stomach is filled; with the harvest of their lips they are satisfied. The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the LORD. The poor plead for mercy, but the rich answer harshly. One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

A rich man’s wealth is his strong city, and like a high wall in his imagination. Before destruction a man’s heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor. If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame. A man’s spirit will endure sickness, but a crushed spirit who can bear? An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge. A man’s gift makes room for him and brings him before the great. The one who states his case first seems right, until the other comes and examines him. The lot puts an end to quarrels and decides between powerful contenders. A brother offended is more unyielding than a strong city, and quarreling is like the bars of a castle. From the fruit of a man’s mouth his stomach is satisfied; he is satisfied by the yield of his lips. Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits. He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the LORD. The poor use entreaties, but the rich answer roughly. A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

The rich think of their wealth as a strong defense; they imagine it to be a high wall of safety. Haughtiness goes before destruction; humility precedes honor. Spouting off before listening to the facts is both shameful and foolish. The human spirit can endure a sick body, but who can bear a crushed spirit? Intelligent people are always ready to learn. Their ears are open for knowledge. Giving a gift can open doors; it gives access to important people! The first to speak in court sounds right— until the cross-examination begins. Flipping a coin can end arguments; it settles disputes between powerful opponents. An offended friend is harder to win back than a fortified city. Arguments separate friends like a gate locked with bars. Wise words satisfy like a good meal; the right words bring satisfaction. The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences. The man who finds a wife finds a treasure, and he receives favor from the LORD. The poor plead for mercy; the rich answer with insults. There are “friends” who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother.

The wealth of the rich is his fortified city; in his imagination it is like a high wall.  Before his downfall a person’s heart is proud,  but humility comes before honor.  The one who gives an answer before he listens — this is foolishness and disgrace for him.  A person’s spirit can endure sickness, but who can survive a broken spirit?  The mind of the discerning acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks it.  A person’s gift opens doors  for him and brings him before the great.  The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him.  Casting the lot  ends quarrels and separates powerful opponents. An offended brother is harder to reach  than a fortified city, and quarrels are like the bars of a fortress. From the fruit of a person’s mouth his stomach is satisfied; he is filled with the product of his lips.  Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.  A man who finds a wife finds a good thing  and obtains favor from the  LORD.  The poor person pleads,  but the rich one answers roughly.  One with many friends may be harmed,  but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother.

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. 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.

The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, And like a high wall in his own esteem. Before destruction the heart of a man is haughty, And before honor is humility. He who answers a matter before he hears it, It is folly and shame to him. The spirit of a man will sustain him in sickness, But who can bear a broken spirit? The heart of the prudent acquires 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 one to plead his cause seems right, Until his neighbor comes and examines him. Casting lots causes contentions to cease, And keeps the mighty apart. A brother offended is harder to win than a strong city, And contentions are like the bars of a castle. A man’s stomach shall be satisfied from the fruit of his mouth; From the produce of his lips he shall be filled. Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit. He who finds a wife finds a good thing, And obtains favor from the LORD. The poor man uses entreaties, But the rich answers roughly. A man who has friends must himself be friendly, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

The rich think their wealth protects them; they imagine themselves safe behind it. Pride first, then the crash, but humility is precursor to honor. Answering before listening is both stupid and rude. A healthy spirit conquers adversity, but what can you do when the spirit is crushed? Wise men and women are always learning, always listening for fresh insights. A gift gets attention; it buys the attention of eminent people. The first speech in a court case is always convincing— until the cross-examination starts! You may have to draw straws when faced with a tough decision. Do a favor and win a friend forever; nothing can untie that bond. Words satisfy the mind as much as fruit does the stomach; good talk is as gratifying as a good harvest. Words kill, words give life; they’re either poison or fruit—you choose. Find a good spouse, you find a good life— and even more: the favor of GOD! The poor speak in soft supplications; the rich bark out answers. Friends come and friends go, but a true friend sticks by you like family.

A rich person’s wealth is his strong city, And like a high wall in his own imagination. Before destruction the heart of a person is haughty, But humility goes before honor. One who gives an answer before he hears, It is foolishness and shame to him. The spirit of a person can endure his sickness, But as for a broken spirit, who can endure it? The mind of the discerning acquires knowledge, And the ear of the wise seeks knowledge. A person’s gift makes room for him And brings him before great people. The first to plead his case seems right, Until another comes and examines him. The cast lot puts an end to quarrels, And decides between the mighty ones. A brother who is offended is harder to be won than a strong city, And quarrels are like the bars of a citadel. With the fruit of a person’s mouth his stomach will be satisfied; He will be satisfied with the product of his lips. Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit. He who finds a wife finds a good thing And obtains favor from the LORD. A poor person utters pleadings, But a rich person answers defiantly. A person of too many friends comes to ruin, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, And like a high wall [of protection] in his own imagination and conceit. Before disaster the heart of a man is haughty and filled with self-importance, But humility comes before honor. He who answers before he hears [the facts]— It is folly and shame to him. [John 7:51] The spirit of a man sustains him in sickness, But as for a broken spirit, who can bear it? The mind of the prudent [always] acquires knowledge, And the ear of the wise [always] seeks knowledge. A man’s gift [given in love or courtesy] makes room for him And brings him before great men. [Gen 32:20; 1 Sam 25:27; Prov 17:8; 21:14] The first one to plead his case seems right, Until another comes and cross-examines him. To cast lots puts an end to quarrels And decides between powerful contenders. A brother offended is harder to win over than a fortified city, And contentions [separating families] are like the bars of a castle. A man’s stomach will be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; He will be satisfied with the consequence of his words. Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it and indulge it will eat its fruit and bear the consequences of their words. [Matt 12:37] He who finds a [true and faithful] wife finds a good thing And obtains favor and approval from the LORD. [Prov 19:14; 31:10] The poor man pleads, But the rich man answers roughly. The man of too many friends [chosen indiscriminately] will be broken in pieces and come to ruin, But there is a [true, loving] friend who [is reliable and] sticks closer than a brother.

The wealth of a rich person is like a strong city, and it is like a high wall in his imagination. Before destruction the heart of a person is proud, but humility comes before honor. The one who gives an answer before he listens – that is his folly and his shame. A person’s spirit sustains him through sickness – but who can bear a crushed spirit? The discerning person acquires knowledge, and the wise person seeks knowledge. A person’s gift makes room for him, and leads him before important people. The first to state his case seems right, until his opponent begins to cross-examine him. A toss of a coin ends disputes, and settles the issue between strong opponents. A relative offended is harder to reach than a strong city, and disputes are like the barred gates of a fortified citadel. From the fruit of a person’s mouth his stomach is satisfied, with the product of his lips is he satisfied. Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love its use will eat its fruit. The one who finds a wife finds what is enjoyable, and receives a pleasurable gift from the LORD. A poor person makes supplications, but a rich man answers harshly. A person who has friends may be harmed by them, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.