Solomon continues warning against folly, wickedness, and injustice. Our relationships with other people can bring us great help or great harm.

BibleGateway: Proverbs 18

ESV Text: Proverbs 18

Proverbs 18 (Listen)

18:1   Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire;
    he breaks out against all sound judgment.
2   A fool takes no pleasure in understanding,
    but only in expressing his opinion.
3   When wickedness comes, contempt comes also,
    and with dishonor comes disgrace.
4   The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters;
    the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.
5   It is not good to be partial to¹ the wicked
    or to deprive the righteous of justice.
6   A fool’s lips walk into a fight,
    and his mouth invites a beating.
7   A fool’s mouth is his ruin,
    and his lips are a snare to his soul.
8   The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels;
    they go down into the inner parts of the body.
9   Whoever is slack in his work
    is a brother to him who destroys.
10   The name of the LORD is a strong tower;
    the righteous man runs into it and is safe.
11   A rich man’s wealth is his strong city,
    and like a high wall in his imagination.
12   Before destruction a man’s heart is haughty,
    but humility comes before honor.
13   If one gives an answer before he hears,
    it is his folly and shame.
14   A man’s spirit will endure sickness,
    but a crushed spirit who can bear?
15   An intelligent heart acquires knowledge,
    and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
16   A man’s gift 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   The 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   From the fruit of a man’s mouth his stomach is satisfied;
    he is satisfied by the yield of his lips.
21   Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
    and those who love it will eat its fruits.
22   He who finds a wife finds a good thing
    and obtains favor from the LORD.
23   The poor use entreaties,
    but the rich answer roughly.
24   A man of many companions may come to ruin,
    but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

(ESV)

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KJV Text: Proverbs 18:1-24

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KJV Text (alt. audio): Chapter 18:

     1 Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom.

     2 A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.

     3 When the wicked cometh, then cometh also contempt, and with ignominy reproach.

     4 The words of a man’s mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook.

     5 It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment.

     6 A fool’s lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes. 7 A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.

     8 The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

     9 He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.

     10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.

     11 The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, and as an high wall in his own conceit.

     12 Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.

     13 He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.

     14 The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?

     15 The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.

     16 A man’s gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.

     17 He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him.

     18 The lot causeth contentions to cease, and parteth between the mighty.

     19 A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.

     20 A man’s belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.

     21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

     22 Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.

     23 The poor useth entreaties; but the rich answereth roughly.

     24 A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.(KJV)

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Hymn: TLH 399 : Thee Will I Love, my Strength

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Organ Audio

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Hymn: LSB 694 : Thee Will I Love, My Strength, My Tower

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