Proverbs 18:9-Proverbs 19:12 - How To Avoid Fools And Foolishness

9 He who does not give his mind to his work is brother to him who makes destruction.

10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the upright man running into it is safe.

11 The property of a man of wealth is his strong town, and it is as a high wall in the thoughts of his heart.

12 Before destruction the heart of man is full of pride, and before honour goes a gentle spirit.

13 To give an answer before hearing is a foolish thing and a cause of shame.

14 The spirit of a man will be his support when he is ill; but how may a broken spirit be lifted up?

15 The heart of the man of good sense gets knowledge; the ear of the wise is searching for knowledge.

16 A man's offering makes room for him, letting him come before great men.

17 The man who first puts his cause before the judge seems to be in the right; but then his neighbour comes and puts his cause in its true light.

18 The decision of chance puts an end to argument, parting the strong.

19 A brother wounded is like a strong town, and violent acts are like a locked tower.

20 With the fruit of a man's mouth his stomach will be full; the produce of his lips will be his in full measure.

21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue; and those to whom it is dear will have its fruit for their food.

22 Whoever gets a wife gets a good thing, and has the approval of the Lord.

23 The poor man makes requests for grace, but the man of wealth gives a rough answer.

24 There are friends who may be a man's destruction, but there is a lover who keeps nearer than a brother.

1 Better is the poor man whose ways are upright, than the man of wealth whose ways are twisted.

2 Further, without knowledge desire is not good; and he who is over-quick in acting goes out of the right way.

3 By his foolish behaviour a man's ways are turned upside down, and his heart is bitter against the Lord.

4 Wealth makes a great number of friends; but the poor man is parted from his friend.

5 A false witness will not go without punishment, and the breather out of deceit will not go free.

6 Great numbers will make attempts to get the approval of a ruler: and every man is the special friend of him who has something to give.

7 All the brothers of the poor man are against him: how much more do his friends go far from him! ...

8 He who gets wisdom has love for his soul: he who keeps good sense will get what is truly good.

9 A false witness will not go without punishment, and the breather out of deceit will be cut off.

10 Material comfort is not good for the foolish; much less for a servant to be put over rulers.

11 A man's good sense makes him slow to wrath, and the overlooking of wrongdoing is his glory.

12 The king's wrath is like the loud cry of a lion, but his approval is like dew on the grass.


Basic English, produced by Mr C. K. Ogden of the Orthological Institute - public domain