| Chapter 18 |
1 | An unfriendly man pursues selfishness, And defies all sound judgment.
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2 | A fool has no delight in understanding, But only in broadcasting his own opinion.
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3 | When wickedness comes, contempt also comes, And with shame comes disgrace.
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4 | The words of a man's mouth are like deep waters. The fountain of wisdom is like a flowing brook.
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5 | To be partial to the faces of the wicked is not good, Nor to deprive the innocent of justice.
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6 | A fool's lips come into strife, And his mouth invites beatings.
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7 | A fool's mouth is his destruction, And his lips are a snare to his soul.
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8 | The words of a gossip are like dainty morsels: They go down into a person's innermost parts.
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9 | One who is slack in his work Is brother to him who is a master of destruction.
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10 | The name of Yahweh is a strong tower: The righteous run to him, and are safe.
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11 | The rich man's wealth is his strong city, Like an unscalable wall in his own imagination.
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12 | Before destruction the heart of man is proud, But before honor is humility.
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13 | He who gives answer before he hears, That is folly and shame to him.
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14 | A man's spirit will sustain him in sickness, But a crushed spirit who can bear?
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15 | The heart of the discerning gets knowledge. The ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
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16 | A man's gift makes room for him, And brings him before great men.
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17 | He who pleads his cause first seems right; Until another comes and questions him.
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18 | The lot settles disputes, And keeps strong ones apart.
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19 | A brother offended is more difficult than a fortified city; And disputes are like the bars of a castle.
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20 | A man's stomach is filled with the fruit of his mouth. With the harvest of his lips he is satisfied.
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21 | Death and life are in the power of the tongue; Those who love it will eat its fruit.
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22 | Whoever finds a wife finds a good thing, And obtains favor of Yahweh.
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23 | The poor pleads for mercy, But the rich answers harshly.
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24 | A man of many companions may be ruined, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
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