Proverbs Eighteen

Words Kill, Words Give Life
18 Loners who care only for themselves
spit on the common good.

2 Fools care nothing for thoughtful discourse;
all they do is run off at the mouth.

3 When wickedness arrives, shame’s not far behind;
contempt for life is contemptible.

4 Many words rush along like rivers in flood,
but deep wisdom flows up from artesian springs.

5 It’s not right to go easy on the guilty,
or come down hard on the innocent.

6 The words of a fool start fights;
do him a favor and gag him.

7 Fools are undone by their big mouths;
their souls are crushed by their words.

8 Listening to gossip is like eating cheap candy;
do you really want junk like that in your belly?

9 Slack habits and sloppy work
are as bad as vandalism.

10 God’s name is a place of protection—
good people can run there and be safe.

11 The rich think their wealth protects them;
they imagine themselves safe behind it.

12 Pride first, then the crash,
but humility is precursor to honor.

13 Answering before listening
is both stupid and rude.

14 A healthy spirit conquers adversity,
but what can you do when the spirit is crushed?

15 Wise men and women are always learning,
always listening for fresh insights.

16 A gift gets attention;
it buys the attention of eminent people.

17 The first speech in a court case is always convincing—
until the cross-examination starts!

18 You may have to draw straws
when faced with a tough decision.

19 Do a favor and win a friend forever;
nothing can untie that bond.

20 Words satisfy the mind as much as fruit does the stomach;
good talk is as gratifying as a good harvest.

21 Words kill, words give life;
they’re either poison or fruit—you choose.

22 Find a good spouse, you find a good life—
and even more: the favor of God!

23 The poor speak in soft supplications;
the rich bark out answers.

24 Friends come and friends go,
but a true friend sticks by you like family.