Pro 18 | ESV | STEP | Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire ; he breaks out against all sound judgment .

‏ Proverbs 18

1 Whoever ^aisolates himself seeks his own desire;
he breaks out against all sound judgment.
2 A fool takes no pleasure in understanding,
but only ^bin expressing his opinion.
3 When wickedness comes, contempt comes also,
and with dishonor comes disgrace.
4 The words of a man’s mouth are ^cdeep waters;
the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.
5 It is not good to ^dbe partial to ^{▼▼Hebrew to lift the face of} the wicked
or to ^fdeprive the righteous of justice.
6 A fool’s lips walk into a fight,
and his mouth invites ^ga beating.
7 ^hA fool’s mouth is his ruin,
and his lips are a snare to his soul.
8 ⁱThe words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels;
they go down into ^jthe inner parts of the body.
9 Whoever is slack in his work
is a ^kbrother to him who destroys.
10 ^lThe name of the Lord is ^ma strong tower;
the righteous man runs into it and ⁿis safe.
11 ^oA rich man’s wealth is his strong city,
and like a high wall in his imagination.
12 ^pBefore destruction a man’s heart is haughty,
but ^qhumility comes before honor.
13 If one gives an answer ^rbefore he hears,
it is his folly and shame.
14 A man’s spirit will endure sickness,
but ^sa crushed spirit who can bear?
15 An intelligent heart acquires knowledge,
and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
16 A man’s ^tgift makes room for him
and brings him before the great.
17 The one who states his case first seems right,
until the other comes and examines him.
18 ^uThe lot puts an end to quarrels
and decides between powerful contenders.
19 A brother offended is more unyielding than a strong city,
and quarreling is like the bars of a castle.
20 ^vFrom the fruit of a man’s mouth his stomach is satisfied;
he is satisfied by the yield of his lips.
21 ^wDeath and life are in the power of the tongue,
and those who love it will eat its fruits.
22 He who finds ^xa wife finds ^ya good thing
and ^zobtains favor ^aafrom the Lord.
23 The poor use entreaties,
but ^abthe rich answer roughly.
24 A man of many companions may come to ruin,
but ^acthere is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.