Proverbs 18
What Happens in This Chapter
This chapter is a collection of short sayings, most of them about how people use words. It speaks about gossip, quarrels, answering before listening, and the power of the tongue for life or death. It sets the name of the LORD as a strong tower beside a rich man's money, which only looks like a high wall to him. It ends with sayings about settling fights by lot, an offended brother, finding a wife, and a friend who stays closer than a brother.
Plain reading written for kids. Short sentences, everyday words, one idea at a time.
Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom.
1A person who shuts himself away from others chases only what he wants. He pushes back against good sense.
The old English sounds like this man is searching for wisdom. The Hebrew means the opposite: he pulls away from people and argues against good sense.
2A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.
2A foolish person does not enjoy learning. He only wants to say what he thinks.
3When the wicked cometh, then cometh also contempt, and with ignominy reproach.
3When a person does wrong, people begin to look down on him. Shame and disgrace come along too.
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. Wise words are like a stream 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 treat an innocent person unfairly in court.
6A fool’s lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes.
6A foolish person's words start fights. His mouth asks for a beating.
7A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.
7A foolish person's own mouth ruins him. His words become a trap for his own life.
8The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
8The words of a gossip are like tasty little bites. They slide down deep inside a person.
The old English says gossip is like "wounds." The Hebrew word means tasty bites of food. Gossip goes down easily and stays deep inside.
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 like a brother to someone 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. People who do right run into 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 city with walls. In his own mind it is a high wall.
12Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.
12Before a person falls, his heart is proud. Before honor comes, a person is humble and does not act better than others.
13He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.
13Some people answer before they have listened. That is foolish, and it brings them shame.
14The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?
14A strong spirit inside can carry a person through sickness. But if the spirit itself is broken, who can carry that?
15The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.
15A person with good sense keeps gaining knowledge. Wise people listen carefully and look for it.
16A man’s gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.
16A gift a person gives opens doors for him. It brings him in to meet important people.
17He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him.
17The first person to tell his side sounds right. Then the other person comes and asks him questions.
18The lot causeth contentions to cease, and parteth between the mighty.
18Casting lots, a bit like drawing straws, ends an argument. It settles things between two strong sides.
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 hurt is harder to win back than a walled city. Quarrels shut you out like the locked bars of a castle.
20A man’s belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.
20What a person says fills his life, the way food fills a stomach. The words from his lips bring him a harvest.
21Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
21Words have the power to bring life or death. People who love to talk will eat what their words grow.
22Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.
22A man who finds a wife has found something good. The LORD has been kind to him.
23The poor useth intreaties; but the rich answereth roughly.
23A poor person asks for help kindly. A rich person answers in a hard way.
24A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
24Someone who wants friends must be friendly himself. And there is a friend who stays closer than a brother.
The first line is hard to read in Hebrew. Some Bibles say instead that a man with many companions can come to ruin.
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