Proverbs · American Standard Version (1901)
Proverbs 18 American Standard Version (1901)
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
1 He that separateth himself seeketh [his own] desire, And rageth against all sound wisdom.
1 A man who isolates himself pursues selfishness, and defies all sound judgment.
2 A fool hath no delight in understanding, But only that his heart may reveal itself.
2 A fool has no delight in understanding, but only in revealing his own opinion.
3 When the wicked cometh, there cometh also contempt, And with ignominy [cometh] reproach.
3 When wickedness comes, contempt also comes, and with shame comes disgrace.
4 The words of a man’s mouth are [as] deep waters; The wellspring of wisdom is [as] a flowing brook.
4 The words of a man’s mouth are like deep waters. The fountain of wisdom is like a flowing brook.
5 To respect the person of the wicked is not good, [Nor] to turn aside the righteous in judgment.
5 To be partial to the faces of the wicked is not good, nor to deprive the innocent of justice.
6 A fool’s lips enter into contention, And his mouth calleth for stripes.
6 A fool’s lips come into strife, and his mouth invites beatings.
7 A fool’s mouth is his destruction, And his lips are the snare of his soul.
7 A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are a snare to his soul.
8 The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, And they go down into the innermost parts.
8 The words of a gossip are like dainty morsels: they go down into a person’s innermost parts.
9 He also that is slack in his work Is brother to him that is a destroyer.
9 One who is slack in his work is brother to him who is a master of destruction.
10 The name of Jehovah is a strong tower; The righteous runneth into it, and is safe.
10 Yahweh’s name is a strong tower: the righteous run to him, and are safe.
11 The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, And as a high wall in his own imagination.
11 The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, like an unscalable wall in his own imagination.
12 Before destruction the heart of man is haughty; And before honor [goeth] humility.
12 Before destruction the heart of man is proud, but before honor is humility.
13 He that giveth answer before he heareth, It is folly and shame unto him.
13 He who answers before he hears, that is folly and shame to him.
14 The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; But a broken spirit who can bear?
14 A man’s spirit will sustain him in sickness, but a crushed spirit, who can bear?
15 The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; And the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.
15 The heart of the discerning gets knowledge. The ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
16 A man’s gift maketh room for him, And bringeth him before great men.
16 A man’s gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men.
17 He that pleadeth his cause first [seemeth] just; But his neighbor cometh and searcheth him out.
17 He who pleads his cause first seems right— until another comes and questions him.
18 The lot causeth contentions to cease, And parteth between the mighty.
18 The lot settles disputes, and keeps strong ones apart.
19 A brother offended [is harder to be won] than a strong city; And [such] contentions are like the bars of a castle.
19 A brother offended is more difficult than a fortified city. Disputes are like the bars of a fortress.
20 A man’s belly shall be filled with the fruit of his mouth; With the increase of his lips shall he be satisfied.
20 A man’s stomach is filled with the fruit of his mouth. With the harvest of his lips he is satisfied.
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue; And they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue; those who love it will eat its fruit.
22 Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, And obtaineth favor of Jehovah.
22 Whoever finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor of Yahweh.
23 The poor useth entreaties; But the rich answereth roughly.
23 The poor plead for mercy, but the rich answer harshly.
24 He that maketh many friends [doeth it] to his own destruction; But there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
24 A man of many companions may be ruined, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Cross references (24)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Ephesians 5:15–17; Proverbs 20:3; Proverbs 2:1–6; Jeremiah 15:17; Proverbs 24:21
- 2 Proverbs 1:7; Proverbs 12:23; Psalm 1:1–2; Proverbs 17:16; Proverbs 13:16
- 3 Proverbs 22:10; 1 Peter 4:14; Proverbs 11:2; 1 Peter 4:4; Proverbs 29:16
- 4 Proverbs 20:5; Proverbs 10:11; Colossians 4:6; John 4:14; Proverbs 13:14
- 5 Leviticus 19:15; Deuteronomy 16:19; Proverbs 28:21; Psalm 82:2; Proverbs 17:15
- 6 Proverbs 27:3; Proverbs 16:27–28; Proverbs 22:24–25; Proverbs 19:29; Proverbs 25:24
- 7 Proverbs 13:3; Proverbs 12:13; Proverbs 10:14; Psalm 64:8; Psalm 140:9
- 8 Proverbs 12:18; Leviticus 19:16; Proverbs 16:28; Proverbs 26:20–22; Psalm 64:3–4
- 9 Proverbs 10:4; Hebrews 6:12; Proverbs 24:30–34; Romans 12:11; Proverbs 23:20–21
- 10 2 Samuel 22:3; Isaiah 26:4; Psalm 91:2; Psalm 144:2; Psalm 61:3–4
- 11 Proverbs 10:15; Ecclesiastes 7:12; Psalm 52:5–7; Luke 12:19–21; Psalm 49:6–9
- 12 Proverbs 15:33; 1 Peter 5:5; Proverbs 11:2; Proverbs 16:18; Ezekiel 28:2
- 13 John 7:51; Deuteronomy 13:14; Proverbs 20:25; Job 29:16
- 14 Proverbs 15:13; Proverbs 17:22; 2 Corinthians 12:9–10; 1 Peter 1:6; Psalm 147:3
- 15 James 1:5; Proverbs 15:14; Proverbs 1:5; Proverbs 9:9; Luke 10:39
- 16 Proverbs 19:6; Genesis 43:11; Genesis 33:10; 1 Samuel 25:27; Proverbs 17:8
- 17 Proverbs 18:13
- 18 Proverbs 16:33; Nehemiah 11:1; 1 Samuel 10:21–27; 1 Chronicles 24:31; 1 Samuel 14:42
- 19 Proverbs 16:32; Acts 15:39; Proverbs 6:19; Genesis 37:3–5; 1 Kings 12:16
- 20 Proverbs 25:11–12; Proverbs 12:13–14; Proverbs 13:2; Proverbs 22:18
- 21 Ephesians 4:29; Matthew 12:35–37; Colossians 4:6; Proverbs 10:19–21; James 3:6–9
- 22 Proverbs 19:14; Proverbs 31:10–31; Proverbs 12:4; Ecclesiastes 9:9; 1 Corinthians 7:2
- 23 James 2:3; James 1:9–11; Exodus 5:2; James 2:6; 1 Samuel 25:17
- 24 Proverbs 17:17; John 15:13–15; Proverbs 27:9; 2 Samuel 1:26; 1 Samuel 19:4–5
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
For that is true which is written, "Pride goeth before destruction, and before honor is humility;" that is to say, secret ruin precedes open ruin, while the former is not counted ruin.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 2 (1887)
Defile it not therefore, lest to thee also He say, "Though ye make many prayers, I will not hearken." Yea, and "in the power of the tongue are death and life;" and, "By thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned." I bid thee then watch thy tongue more than the apple of thine …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)
The hand of God he hath called the power of God: as hath been written in another place, "death and life are in the hands of the tongue." Hath the tongue hands?
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 8 (1888)