Proverbs 18:1-11

New American Standard Bible

18 One who separates himself seeks his own desire;
He ^[a](A)quarrels against all sound wisdom.
² A fool does not delight in understanding,
But ^(B)in revealing his own ^[b]mind.
³ When a wicked person comes, contempt also comes,
And with dishonor comes taunting.
⁴ The words of a person’s mouth are ^(C)deep waters;
^[c]The fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.
⁵ To ^(D)show partiality to the wicked is not good,
Nor to ^(E)suppress the righteous in judgment.
⁶ A fool’s lips ^[d]bring strife,
And his mouth invites ^(F)beatings.
⁷ A ^(G)fool’s mouth is his ruin,
And his lips are the snare of his soul.
⁸ The words of a gossiper are like dainty morsels,
And they go down into the ^[e]innermost parts of the body.
⁹ He also who is ^(H)lax in his work
^(I)Is a brother to him who destroys.
¹⁰ The ^(J)name of the Lord is a ^(K)strong tower;
The righteous runs into it and ^(L)is ^[f]safe.
¹¹ A ^(M)rich person’s wealth is his strong city,
And like a high wall in his own imagination.