Proverbs 18:9-Proverbs 19:12 - How To Avoid Fools And Foolishness

⁹ The one who is truly lazy in his work
is brother to a vandal.

¹⁰ The name of Yahweh is a strong tower;
the righteous run to it and are protected.

¹¹ A rich man’s wealth is his fortified city;
in his imagination it is like a high wall.

¹² Before his downfall a man’s heart is proud,
but humility comes before honor.

¹³ The one who gives an answer before he listens—
this is foolishness and disgrace for him.

¹⁴ A man’s spirit can endure sickness,
but who can survive a broken spirit?

¹⁵ The mind of the discerning acquires knowledge,
and the ear of the wise seeks it.

¹⁶ A gift opens doors for a man
and brings him before the great.

¹⁷ The first to state his case seems right
until another comes and cross-examines him.

¹⁸ Casting the lot ends quarrels
and separates powerful opponents.

¹⁹ An offended brother is harder to reach
than a fortified city,
and quarrels are like the bars of a fortress.

²⁰ From the fruit of his mouth a man’s stomach is satisfied;
he is filled with the product of his lips.

²¹ Life and death are in the power of the tongue,
and those who love it will eat its fruit.

²² A man who finds a wife finds a good thing
and obtains favor from the Lord.

²³ The poor man pleads,
but the rich one answers roughly.

²⁴ A man with many friends may be harmed,
but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother.

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¹ Better a poor man who lives with integrity
than someone who has deceitful lips and is a fool.

² Even zeal is not good without knowledge,
and the one who acts hastily sins.

³ A man’s own foolishness leads him astray,
yet his heart rages against the Lord.

⁴ Wealth attracts many friends,
but a poor man is separated from his friend.

⁵ A false witness will not go unpunished,
and one who utters lies will not escape.

⁶ Many seek a ruler’s favor,
and everyone is a friend of one who gives gifts.

⁷ All the brothers of a poor man hate him;
how much more do his friends
keep their distance from him!
He may pursue them with words,
but they are not there.

⁸ The one who acquires good sense loves himself;
one who safeguards understanding finds success.

⁹ A false witness will not go unpunished,
and one who utters lies perishes.

¹⁰ Luxury is not appropriate for a fool—
how much less for a slave to rule over princes!

¹¹ A person’s insight gives him patience,
and his virtue is to overlook an offense.

¹² A king’s rage is like the roaring of a lion,
but his favor is like dew on the grass.