Proverbs 18:9-Proverbs 19:12 - How To Avoid Fools And Foolishness
9 Even he who is slack in his work, he is brother to a master of destruction.
10 A tower of strength is the name of Yahweh; into him the righteous will run and be safe.
11 The wealth of the rich [is] {his strong city}, and like a wall, it is high in his imagination.
12 In the presence of destruction, the heart of a man will be haughty, but in the presence of honor, humble.
13 He who returns a word before he will hear, folly itself [belongs] to him as well as shame.
14 The spirit of a man will endure his sickness, but a broken spirit, who may bear it?
15 An intelligent {mind} will acquire knowledge, and the ear of the wise will seek knowledge.
16 The gift of a person will open doors for him, and before the great, it gives him access.
17 The first in his dispute is [deemed] righteous, [but] his neighbor will come and examine him.
18 The lot will put an end to disputes, and between powerful contenders it will decide.
19 A brother who is offended [is worse] than a city of strength, and quarrels [are] like the bars of a fortification.
20 From the fruit of a man's mouth, his stomach will be satisfied, as for the yield of his lips, it will satisfy.
21 Death and life [are] in the {power} of the tongue, and those who love her will eat of her fruit.
22 He who finds a wife finds good, and he will obtain favor from Yahweh.
23 The poor may speak entreaties, but the rich will answer roughly.
24 A man of [many] friends will come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
1 Better a poor person walking in integrity than one who is perverse {in his speech} and is a fool.
2 Also, a life without knowledge is not good, and he who moves quickly with [his] feet {misses the mark}.
3 As for the folly of humankind, its way leads to ruin, and against Yahweh his heart will rage.
4 Wealth adds many friends, but the poor will be left by his friends.
5 A witness of falsehood will not go unpunished, and he who breathes lies will not escape.
6 Many will seek favor before the generous, and everyone [is] the friend of a man of gifts.
7 All the brothers of the poor, [if] they hate him, how much more will his friends keep away from him. He pursues [them with] words, [and] they are gone.
8 He who acquires wisdom loves himself; he who guards understanding [loves] to find good.
9 A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes lies will perish.
10 For a fool living in luxury is not fitting, [any] more [than it is] for a slave to rule over princes.
11 The understanding of a person makes him slow to his {anger}, and his glory overlooks offense.
12 The rage of a king growls like a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass.