Proverbs 18

The Proverbs of Solomon

1 A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire;
He rages against all 1 wise judgment. 2 A fool has no delight in understanding,
But in expressing his a own heart. 3 When the wicked comes, contempt comes also;
And with dishonor comes reproach. 4 b The words of a man's mouth are deep waters;
c The wellspring of wisdom is a flowing brook. 5 It is not good to show partiality to the wicked,
Or to overthrow the righteous in d judgment. 6 A fool's lips enter into contention,
And his mouth calls for blows. 7 e A fool's mouth is his destruction,
And his lips are the snare of his f soul. 8 g The words of a 2 talebearer are like 3 tasty trifles,
And they go down into the 4 inmost body. 9 He who is slothful in his work
Is a brother to him who is a great destroyer. 10 The name of the LORD is a strong h tower;
The righteous run to it and are 5 safe. 11 The rich man's wealth is his strong city,
And like a high wall in his own esteem. 12 i Before destruction the heart of a man is haughty,
And before honor is humility. 13 He who answers a matter before he hears it,
It is folly and shame to him. 14 The spirit of a man will sustain him in sickness,
But who can bear a broken spirit? 15 The heart of the prudent acquires knowledge,
And the ear of the wise seeks knowledge. 16 j A man's gift makes room for him,
And brings him before great men. 17 The first one to plead his cause seems right,
Until his neighbor comes and examines him. 18 Casting k lots causes contentions to cease,
And keeps the mighty apart. 19 A brother offended is harder to win than a strong city,
And contentions are like the bars of a castle. 20 l A man's stomach shall be satisfied from the fruit of his mouth;
From the produce of his lips he shall be filled. 21 m Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
And those who love it will eat its fruit. 22 n He who finds a wife finds a good thing,
And obtains favor from the LORD. 23 The poor man uses entreaties,
But the rich answers o roughly. 24 A man who has friends 6 must himself be friendly, 7
p But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

  1. Cross References
    Ecclesiastes 10:3
    Even when a fool walks along the way, He lacks wisdom, And he shows everyone that he is a fool.
  2. Cross References
    Proverbs 10:11
    The mouth of the righteous is a well of life, But violence covers the mouth of the wicked.
  3. Cross References
    James 3:17
    But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.
  4. Cross References
    Leviticus 19:15
    You shall do no injustice in judgment. You shall not be partial to the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty. In righteousness you shall judge your neighbor.
    Deuteronomy 1:17
    'You shall not show partiality in judgment; you shall hear the small as well as the great; you shall not be afraid in any man's presence, for the judgment is God's. The case that is too hard for you, bring to me, and I will hear it.'
    Deuteronomy 16:19
    You shall not pervert justice; you shall not show partiality, nor take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous.
    Psalms 82:2
    How long will you judge unjustly, And show partiality to the wicked? Selah
    Proverbs 17:15
    He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the just, Both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.
  5. Cross References
    Psalms 64:8
    So He will make them stumble over their own tongue; All who see them shall flee away.
    Psalms 140:9
    As for the head of those who surround me, Let the evil of their lips cover them.
    Proverbs 10:14
    Wise people store up knowledge, But the mouth of the foolish is near destruction.
  6. Cross References
    Ecclesiastes 10:12
    The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious, But the lips of a fool shall swallow him up.
  7. Cross References
    Proverbs 12:18
    There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword, But the tongue of the wise promotes health.
  8. Cross References
    2 Samuel 22:2
    And he said: "The LORD is my rock and my fortre...
    2 Samuel 22:3
    The God of my strength, in whom I will trust; M...
    2 Samuel 22:33
    God is my strength and power, And He makes my w...
    Psalms 18:2
    The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deli...
    Psalms 61:3
    For You have been a shelter for me, A strong to...
    Psalms 91:2
    I will say of the LORD, " He is my refuge and m...
    Psalms 144:2
    My lovingkindness and my fortress, My high towe...
  9. Cross References
    Proverbs 15:33
    The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom, And before honor is humility.
    Proverbs 16:18
    Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.
  10. Cross References
    Genesis 32:20
    "and also say, 'Behold, your servant Jacob is behind us."' For he said, "I will appease him with the present that goes before me, and afterward I will see his face; perhaps he will accept me."
    Genesis 32:21
    So the present went on over before him, but he himself lodged that night in the camp.
    1 Samuel 25:27
    And now this present which your maidservant has brought to my lord, let it be given to the young men who follow my lord.
    Proverbs 17:8
    A present is a precious stone in the eyes of its possessor; Wherever he turns, he prospers.
    Proverbs 21:14
    A gift in secret pacifies anger, And a bribe behind the back, strong wrath.
  11. Cross References
    Proverbs 16:33
    The lot is cast into the lap, But its every decision is from the LORD.
  12. Cross References
    Proverbs 12:14
    A man will be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth, And the recompense of a man's hands will be rendered to him.
    Proverbs 14:14
    The backslider in heart will be filled with his own ways, But a good man will be satisfied from above.
  13. Cross References
    Proverbs 12:13
    The wicked is ensnared by the transgression of his lips, But the righteous will come through trouble.
    Proverbs 13:3
    He who guards his mouth preserves his life, But he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction.
    Matthew 12:37
    "For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."
  14. Cross References
    Genesis 2:18
    And the LORD God said, " It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.
    Proverbs 12:4
    An excellent wife is the crown of her husband, But she who causes shame is like rottenness in his bones.
    Proverbs 19:14
    Houses and riches are an inheritance from fathers, But a prudent wife is from the LORD.
  15. Cross References
    James 2:3
    And you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, "You sit here in a good place," and say to the poor man, "You stand there," or, "Sit here at my footstool.
    James 2:6
    But you have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you and drag you into the courts?
  16. Cross References
    Proverbs 17:17
    A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity.
    John 15:14
    You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.
    John 15:15
    No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
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