Proverbs — Chapter 18
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1He who isolates himself pursues selfish desires; he rebels against all sound judgment.
2A fool does not delight in understanding, but only in airing his opinions.
3With a wicked man comes contempt as well, and shame is accompanied by disgrace.
4The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters; the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.
5Showing partiality to the wicked is not good, nor is depriving the innocent of justice.
6A fool’s lips bring him strife, and his mouth invites a beating.
7A fool’s mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to his soul.
8The words of a gossip are like choice morsels that go down into the inmost being.
9Whoever is slothful in his work is brother to him who destroys.
10The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.
11A rich man’s wealth is his fortified city; it is like a high wall in his imagination.
12Before his downfall a man’s heart is proud, but humility comes before honor.
13He who answers a matter before he hears it—this is folly and disgrace to him.
14The spirit of a man can endure his sickness, but who can survive a broken spirit?
15The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks it out.
16A man’s gift opens doors for him, and brings him before great men.
17The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him.
18Casting the lot ends quarrels and separates strong opponents.
19An offended brother is harder to win than a fortified city, and disputes are like the bars of a castle.
20From the fruit of his mouth a man’s belly is filled; with the harvest from his lips he is satisfied.
21Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
22He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the LORD.
23The poor man pleads for mercy, but the rich man answers harshly.
24A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother.
1Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom.
2A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.
3When the wicked cometh, then cometh also contempt, and with ignominy reproach.
4The words of a man’s mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook.
5It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment.
6A fool’s lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes.
7A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.
8The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
9He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.
10The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.
11The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, and as an high wall in his own conceit.
12Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.
13He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.
14The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?
15The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.
16A man’s gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.
17He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him.
18The lot causeth contentions to cease, and parteth between the mighty.
19A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.
20A man’s belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.
21Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
22Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.
23The poor useth intreaties; but the rich answereth roughly.
24A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
1He that separateth himself seeketh [his own] desire, And rageth against all sound wisdom.
2A fool hath no delight in understanding, But only that his heart may reveal itself.
3When the wicked cometh, there cometh also contempt, And with ignominy [cometh] reproach.
4The words of a man`s mouth are [as] deep waters; The wellspring of wisdom is [as] a flowing brook.
5To respect the person of the wicked is not good, [Nor] to turn aside the righteous in judgment.
6A fool`s lips enter into contention, And his mouth calleth for stripes.
7A fool`s mouth is his destruction, And his lips are the snare of his soul.
8The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, And they go down into the innermost parts.
9He also that is slack in his work Is brother to him that is a destroyer.
10The name of Jehovah is a strong tower; The righteous runneth into it, and is safe.
11The rich man`s wealth is his strong city, And as a high wall in his own imagination.
12Before destruction the heart of man is haughty; And before honor [goeth] humility.
13He that giveth answer before he heareth, It is folly and shame unto him.
14The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; But a broken spirit who can bear?
15The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; And the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.
16A man`s gift maketh room for him, And bringeth him before great men.
17He that pleadeth his cause first [seemeth] just; But his neighbor cometh and searcheth him out.
18The lot causeth contentions to cease, And parteth between the mighty.
19A brother offended [is harder to be won] than a strong city; And [such] contentions are like the bars of a castle.
20A man`s belly shall be filled with the fruit of his mouth; With the increase of his lips shall he be satisfied.
21Death and life are in the power of the tongue; And they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
22Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, And obtaineth favor of Jehovah.
23The poor useth entreaties; But the rich answereth roughly.
24He that maketh many friends [doeth it] to his own destruction; But there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
1One who has isolated himself seeks his own desires; he rejects all sound judgment.
2A fool takes no pleasure in understanding but only in disclosing what is on his mind.
3When a wicked person arrives, contempt shows up with him, and with shame comes a reproach.
4The words of a person’s mouth are like deep waters, and the fountain of wisdom is like a flowing brook.
5It is terrible to show partiality to the wicked by depriving a righteous man of justice.
6The lips of a fool enter into strife, and his mouth invites a flogging.
7The mouth of a fool is his ruin, and his lips are a snare for his life.
8The words of a gossip are like choice morsels, and they have gone down into the person’s innermost being.
9The one who is slack in his work is a brother to one who destroys.
10The name of the Lord is like a strong tower; the righteous person runs to it and is set safely on high.
11The wealth of a rich person is like a strong city, and it is like a high wall in his imagination.
12Before destruction the heart of a person is proud, but humility comes before honor.
13The one who gives an answer before he listens— that is his folly and his shame.
14A person’s spirit sustains him through sickness— but who can bear a crushed spirit?
15The discerning person acquires knowledge, and the wise person seeks knowledge.
16A person’s gift makes room for him and leads him before important people.
17The first to state his case seems right, until his opponent begins to cross-examine him.
18A toss of a coin ends disputes and settles the issue between strong opponents.
19A relative offended is harder to reach than a strong city, and disputes are like the barred gates of a fortified citadel.
20From the fruit of a person’s mouth his stomach will be satisfied; with the product of his lips he will be satisfied.
21Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love its use will eat its fruit.
22The one who has found a good wife has found what goodness is and obtained a delightful gift from the Lord.
23A poor person makes supplications, but a rich man answers harshly.
24There are companions who harm one another, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
1An unfriendly man pursues selfishness, and defies all sound judgment.
2A fool has no delight in understanding, but only in revealing his own opinion.
3When wickedness comes, contempt also comes, and with shame comes disgrace.
4The words of a man’s mouth are like deep waters. The fountain of wisdom is like a flowing brook.
5To be partial to the faces of the wicked is not good, nor to deprive the innocent of justice.
6A fool’s lips come into strife, and his mouth invites beatings.
7A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are a snare to his soul.
8The words of a gossip are like dainty morsels: they go down into a person’s innermost parts.
9One who is slack in his work is brother to him who is a master of destruction.
10Yahweh’s name is a strong tower: the righteous run to him, and are safe.
11The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, like an unscalable wall in his own imagination.
12Before destruction the heart of man is proud, but before honor is humility.
13He who gives answer before he hears, that is folly and shame to him.
14A man’s spirit will sustain him in sickness, but a crushed spirit, who can bear?
15The heart of the discerning gets knowledge. The ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
16A man’s gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men.
17He who pleads his cause first seems right; until another comes and questions him.
18The lot settles disputes, and keeps strong ones apart.
19A brother offended is more difficult than a fortified city; and disputes are like the bars of a fortress.
20A man’s stomach is filled with the fruit of his mouth. With the harvest of his lips he is satisfied.
21Death and life are in the power of the tongue; those who love it will eat its fruit.
22Whoever finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor of Yahweh.
23The poor plead for mercy, but the rich answer harshly.
24A man of many companions may be ruined, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Summary
Solomon opens by warning that a person who isolates himself pursues only his own desires and rejects sound judgment, unlike a fool who talks just to reveal his own mind (vv. 1-2). Careless, hasty speech is condemned: a fool's mouth invites trouble, gossip wounds deeply, and answering before listening is called foolish and shameful (vv. 6-8, 13). The LORD's name is pictured as a strong tower where the righteous find safety, while the rich mistakenly trust their wealth as their own fortress (vv. 10-11). Pride precedes a fall while humility precedes honor, and an offended brother is said to be harder to win back than a fortified city (vv. 12, 19). The tongue holds enormous power over life and death, and the chapter closes by praising a good wife as a gift from the LORD and a loyal friend as closer than a brother (vv. 20-22, 24).
Authorship & Background
Commentary
- Enduring Word (David Guzik): enduringword.com Guzik contrasts v.10 and v.11: the righteous trust God's name; the wealthy trust their money. One is real security; the other is imagined ("in his own conceit"). On v.21, he states: "We underestimate the power of our words. They literally dispense life or death to those who hear them." On v.24, Guzik notes that while the primary meaning is human friendship, the Christian rightly sees Christ — the friend who will never leave or forsake.
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown (1871): blueletterbible.org A critical and explanatory commentary on the whole Bible, more concise than Matthew Henry and closer to the Hebrew and Greek, with attention to historical and geographical detail. Public domain.
- Matthew Henry's Exposition (1710): blueletterbible.org A devotional verse-by-verse commentary in the Puritan tradition, still among the most widely read three centuries on. Public domain.
Videos
Articles
- GotQuestions.org: gotquestions.org On the whole book: an overview of the book of Proverbs -- who wrote it, when, why, and how it fits the rest of Scripture.
Links open on the publisher's own site. Nothing here is reproduced on this page.
Reflection
- Running to the Right Refuge (v.10) — The LORD's name is pictured as a strong tower where the righteous run for safety, unlike the wealthy who trust their riches as a high wall. When trouble hits, is God the first place you run, or an afterthought?
- Answering Before Listening (v.13) — Giving a reply before fully hearing someone out is called both foolish and shameful. Do you listen fully before responding, or are you already forming your answer while others are still talking?
- The Tongue Holds Life and Death (v.21) — Words carry real power to build up or tear down, and we live with the consequences of how we use them. Are your words this week building life in people or draining it?
- A Spouse as God's Favor (v.22) — Finding a wife is described as finding something good and obtaining favor from the LORD. Do you treat your marriage as evidence of God's kindness, or take it for granted?
- A Friend Closer Than a Brother (v.24) — Some friendships run deeper than family ties, staying loyal through anything. Who is that friend in your life, and are you that kind of friend to someone else?