Proverbs 18
18
1People who do not get along with others are interested only in themselves; they will disagree with what everyone else knows is right.
2A fool does not care whether he understands a thing or not; all he wants to do is to show how clever he is.
3Sin and shame go together. Lose your honour, and you will get scorn in its place.
4A person's words can be a source of wisdom, deep as the ocean, fresh as a flowing stream.
5It is not right to favour the guilty and prevent the innocent from receiving justice.
6When some fool starts an argument, he is asking for a beating.
7When a fool speaks, he is ruining himself; he gets caught in the trap of his own words.
8Gossip is so tasty — how we love to swallow it!
9A lazy person is as bad as someone who is destructive.
10The LORD is like a strong tower, where the righteous can go and be safe. 11Rich people, however, imagine that their wealth protects them like high, strong walls round a city.
12No one is respected unless he is humble; arrogant people are on the way to ruin.
13Listen before you answer. If you don't you are being stupid and insulting.
14Your will to live can sustain you when you are sick, but if you lose it, your last hope is gone.
15Intelligent people are always eager and ready to learn.
16Do you want to meet an important person? Take a gift and it will be easy.
17The first to speak in court always seems right until his opponent begins to question him.
18If two powerful men are opposing each other in court, casting lots can settle the issue.
19Help your relatives and they will protect you like a strong city wall,#18.19 Some ancient translations Help… wall; Hebrew unclear. but if you quarrel with them, they will close their doors to you.
20You will have to live with the consequences of everything you say. 21What you say can preserve life or destroy it; so you must accept the consequences of your words.
22Find a wife and you find a good thing; it shows that the LORD is good to you.
23When the poor speak, they have to beg politely, but when the rich answer, they are rude.
24Some friendships do#18.24 Some ancient translations Some friendships do; Hebrew Someone with friends does. not last, but some friends are more loyal than brothers.
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Proverbs 18: GNBDC
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Good News Bible. Scripture taken from the Good News Bible (r) (Today's English Version Second Edition, UK/British Edition). Copyright © 1992 British & Foreign Bible Society. Used by permission.