Proverbs 18

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1} He who is selfish seeks a craving; against all sound judgment he shows contempt.

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2} A fool will not take pleasure in understanding, but in expressing his heart.

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3} With the coming of wickedness comes contempt also, and with dishonor, disgrace.

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4} Deep waters [are] words of the mouth of a man; a gushing stream [is] a fountain of wisdom.

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5} Being partial [to] faces of evil [is] not good, [nor] to subvert the righteous at the judgment.

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6} The lips of a fool will bring strife, and his mouth calls out for a flogging.

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7} The mouth of a fool [is] ruin to him, and his lips [are] a snare to his soul.

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8} The words of a whisper [are] like delicious morsels, and they themselves go down [to] inner parts of the body.

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9} Even he who is slack in his work, he is brother to a master of destruction.

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10} A tower of strength is the name of Yahweh; into him the righteous will run and be safe.

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11} The wealth of the rich [is] {his strong city}, and like a wall, it is high in his imagination.

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12} In the presence of destruction, the heart of a man will be haughty, but in the presence of honor, humble.

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13} He who returns a word before he will hear, folly itself [belongs] to him as well as shame.

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14} The spirit of a man will endure his sickness, but a broken spirit, who may bear it?

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15} An intelligent {mind} will acquire knowledge, and the ear of the wise will seek knowledge.

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16} The gift of a person will open doors for him, and before the great, it gives him access.

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17} The first in his dispute is [deemed] righteous, [but] his neighbor will come and examine him.

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18} The lot will put an end to disputes, and between powerful contenders it will decide.

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19} A brother who is offended [is worse] than a city of strength, and quarrels [are] like the bars of a fortification.

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20} From the fruit of a man's mouth, his stomach will be satisfied, as for the yield of his lips, it will satisfy.

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21} Death and life [are] in the {power} of the tongue, and those who love her will eat of her fruit.

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22} He who finds a wife finds good, and he will obtain favor from Yahweh.

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23} The poor may speak entreaties, but the rich will answer roughly.

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24} A man of [many] friends will come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.