18:1 ·Unfriendly [Antisocial; Lonely] people ·are selfish [L seek their own longings/desires] and ·hate [L break out against] all good sense.
18:2 Fools do not ·want to understand anything [L delight in understanding]. They only want to ·tell others what they think [L reveal/disclose their heart].
18:3 Do something evil, and people won’t like you. Do something shameful, and they will ·make fun of [insult] you.
18:4 ·Spoken words [L The words of a person’s mouth] can be like deep water, ·but [or and] the fountain of wisdom is like a flowing stream.
18:5 It is not good to ·honor [or show favor to] the wicked or to be unfair to the innocent.
18:6 The ·words [L lips] of fools ·start quarrels [or make accusations]. ·They make people want to beat them [L Their mouth invites a beating].
18:7 The ·words [L mouth] of fools will ruin them; their own ·words [L lips] will trap them.
18:8 The words of a gossip are like tasty bits of food. ·People like to gobble them up [L They go down to one’s inmost parts].
18:9 A person who doesn’t work hard is ·just like someone who destroys things [L a brother to a destroyer].
18:10 The name of the Lord is like a strong tower; ·those who do right [the righteous] can run to him for ·safety [refuge].
18:11 Rich people trust their wealth like a strong city. They think it is like the high walls.
18:12 Proud people will be ruined, but ·the humble will be honored [humility comes before glory].
18:13 Anyone who answers without listening is foolish and ·confused [or a disgrace].
18:14 The ·will to live [L human spirit] can get you through sickness, but ·no one can live with [L who can bear…?] a broken spirit.
18:15 The ·mind [heart] of a person with understanding gets knowledge; the ·wise person listens to learn more [L ear of the wise seeks knowledge].
18:16 Taking gifts to important people will help get you in to see them.
18:17 The person who ·tells one side of [first tells] a story seems right, until ·someone else [his friend/neighbor] comes and asks questions.
18:18 Throwing lots can settle arguments and ·keep the two sides from fighting [is decisive against powerful people].
18:19 A brother who has been ·insulted [offended] is harder to win back than a walled city, and arguments separate people like the barred gates of a palace.
18:20 ·People will be rewarded for what they say [L From the fruit of the mouth of a person is their stomach satisfied]; ·they will be rewarded by how they speak [L the yield/gain of their lips satisfies].
18:21 ·What you say can mean [L In the power of the tongue are] life or death. Those who ·speak with care [love it] will ·be rewarded [L eat its fruit].
18:22 When a man finds a wife, he finds something good. It shows that the Lord ·is pleased with [favors] him.
18:23 The poor beg for mercy, but the rich give ·rude [harsh] answers.
18:24 Some friends may ruin you, but a real friend will ·be more loyal [cling closer] than a brother.
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