ESV - Proverbs Chapter 18 to 19

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

[1] Hebrew to lift the face of

19 19:1 Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool. ²Desire[2] without knowledge is not good, and whoever makes haste with his feet misses his way. ³When a man’s folly brings his way to ruin, his heart rages against the Lord. ⁴Wealth brings many new friends, but a poor man is deserted by his friend. ⁵A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies will not escape. ⁶Many seek the favor of a generous man,[3] and everyone is a friend to a man who gives gifts. ⁷All a poor man’s brothers hate him; how much more do his friends go far from him! He pursues them with words, but does not have them.^[4]⁸Whoever gets sense loves his own soul; he who keeps understanding will discover good. ⁹A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies will perish. ¹⁰It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury, much less for a slave to rule over princes. ¹¹Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense. ¹²A king’s wrath is like the growling of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass. ¹³A foolish son is ruin to his father, and a wife’s quarreling is a continual dripping of rain. ¹⁴House and wealth are inherited from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the Lord. ¹⁵Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep, and an idle person will suffer hunger. ¹⁶Whoever keeps the commandment keeps his life; he who despises his ways will die. ¹⁷Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed. ¹⁸Discipline your son, for there is hope; do not set your heart on putting him to death. ¹⁹A man of great wrath will pay the penalty, for if you deliver him, you will only have to do it again. ²⁰Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future. ²¹Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand. ²²What is desired in a man is steadfast love, and a poor man is better than a liar. ²³The fear of the Lord leads to life, and whoever has it rests satisfied; he will not be visited by harm. ²⁴The sluggard buries his hand in the dish and will not even bring it back to his mouth. ²⁵Strike a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence; reprove a man of understanding, and he will gain knowledge. ²⁶He who does violence to his father and chases away his mother is a son who brings shame and reproach. ²⁷Cease to hear instruction, my son, and you will stray from the words of knowledge. ²⁸A worthless witness mocks at justice, and the mouth of the wicked devours iniquity. ²⁹Condemnation is ready for scoffers, and beating for the backs of fools.

[2] Or A soul [3] Or of a noble [4] The meaning of the Hebrew sentence is uncertain