Proverbs 18

²A foolish person does not care about understanding. They only want to say what they are thinking. They do not want to learn.

³When a person does wrong, shame and disgrace come with them. Doing wrong brings dishonour.

⁴A wise person's words are like deep, refreshing water. Wisdom keeps flowing like a brook that never runs dry.

⁵It is wrong to take sides with someone who does evil. It is wrong to treat a good person unfairly in court.

⁶A fool's words start arguments. The things a fool says bring punishment on themselves.

⁷A fool destroys themselves with their own words. Their mouth is a trap that catches their very soul.

⁸Gossip hurts people deeply. Hurtful words sink down inside a person and stay there a long time.

⁹A lazy worker is just like someone who destroys everything they touch. Laziness is like wasting what God gave you.

¹⁰God's name is like a strong tower. When you do right and run to God, He keeps you safe.

¹¹A rich person thinks their money keeps them safe. But that wall of wealth only exists in their own imagination.

¹²Pride comes before a person is destroyed. And humility comes before a person is truly honoured.

¹³It is foolish and shameful to answer before you have finished listening. Hear the whole story first.

¹⁴A strong spirit inside can carry a person through sickness. But a broken spirit — that is the heaviest thing to carry.

¹⁵A wise person's heart is always learning. A wise person's ears are always listening for what is true and good.

¹⁶Using your gift well opens doors for you. Your abilities can bring you before important people.

¹⁷The first person to tell their side of a story always sounds right. But wait until the other side speaks — the truth may look very different.

¹⁸Sometimes casting lots — like drawing straws — can end a long argument. Even powerful people accept this when there is no other way.

¹⁹Hurting someone close to you is very serious. It is harder to win them back than to take a strong city. A broken friendship is like prison bars.

²⁰The words you say produce fruit — and you will have to eat that fruit yourself. What you speak comes back to you.

²¹Your tongue has the power to bring life or to bring death. What you say matters more than you know.

²²When a man finds a good wife, he has found something wonderful. This is a gift of favour from God.

²³The poor person must beg and plead. But the rich person speaks harshly and with power. God notices how the powerful treat the weak.

²⁴To have good friends, you must be a good friend. And there is a friend who loves you even more than a brother. That friend is Jesus.