Proverbs
Chapter 18
This chapter is a collection of short sayings about words and what they do: gossip, quick answers, quarrels, and speech that brings either life or death. Between them are sayings about pride and humility, about riches that only look like safety, and about the name of the LORD as a place of real safety. It also touches on laziness, taking sides in court, settling disputes, marriage, and friendship.
Plain reading written for preteens. Clear and complete, at about a fifth grade reading level.
Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom.
1A person who cuts himself off from others is only chasing what he wants. He fights against all good sense.
The old English here is unclear, and translators read this verse in two opposite ways. "Intermeddleth" once meant to quarrel with or break out against, which is how most modern translations take it.
2A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.
2A fool takes no pleasure in understanding things. He only wants to air his own opinions.
3When the wicked cometh, then cometh also contempt, and with ignominy reproach.
3When a wicked person shows up, scorn comes with him. And shame brings disgrace along with it.
4The words of a man’s mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook.
4The words a person speaks are like deep water. Wisdom is like a spring that keeps bubbling up.
5It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment.
5It is wrong to take the side of a guilty person. It is wrong to cheat an innocent one in court.
6A fool’s lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes.
6A fool's words start fights. His mouth invites someone to hit him.
7A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.
7A fool's mouth ruins him. His own words are a trap he walks into.
8The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
8A gossip's words go down easy, like tasty bites of food. They sink deep inside a person.
"Wounds" is a guess at a rare Hebrew word. It most likely means choice bits of food, which is why the saying pictures gossip being swallowed down.
9He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.
9A person who is lazy at his work is a brother to the one who wrecks things.
10The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.
10The name of the LORD is a strong tower. Those who do right run to it and are safe.
11The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, and as an high wall in his own conceit.
11A rich man thinks his money is a walled city. In his own mind it is a high wall around him.
12Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.
12Before a person falls, his heart is proud. Before he is honored, he is humble.
13He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.
13Answering before you have heard the whole matter is foolish. It brings you shame.
14The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?
14A person's spirit can carry him through being sick. But if the spirit itself is crushed, who can bear that?
15The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.
15A person with good sense keeps gaining knowledge. A wise person's ear is always listening for it.
16A man’s gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.
16A gift a person brings opens doors for him. It gets him in to see important people.
17He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him.
17The first one to tell his side sounds right. Then the other person comes and questions him closely.
18The lot causeth contentions to cease, and parteth between the mighty.
18Drawing lots puts an end to arguments. It settles things between two strong opponents.
19A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.
19A brother you have wronged is harder to win back than a walled city. Quarrels shut people out like locked gates.
20A man’s belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.
20A person is filled up by the words that come out of his mouth. He gets a harvest from what he says.
21Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
21The tongue has the power of death and of life. People who love talking will eat what their words grow.
22Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.
22The man who finds a wife has found something good. He has received kindness from the LORD.
23The poor useth intreaties; but the rich answereth roughly.
23A poor man has to beg for mercy. A rich man answers him harshly.
24A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
24A person who wants friends must be a friend to others. And some friends stay closer than a brother.
The Hebrew here is uncertain. Many modern translations read the first half the other way around: "a man of many friends comes to ruin."
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