Proverbios 18

1Va tras sus propios deseos el que se separa (del amigo); todo su empeño consiste en pleitear.

2Al necio no le gusta ser sensato, se deja llevar por los gustos de su corazón.

3Con la impiedad llega también la ignominia, y con la ignominia la deshonra.

4Aguas profundas son las palabras de la boca del hombre, torrente caudaloso la fuente de la sabiduría.

5No está bien tener miramientos con el malvado, para torcer el derecho contra un justo.

6Los labios del necio se meten en contiendas, y su boca provoca litigios.

7La boca del necio es su ruina, y sus labios son un lazo para su alma.

8Las palabras del chismoso son como dulces bocados, penetran hasta lo más hondo de las entrañas.

9Quien es remiso en sus labores, hermano es del que disipa sus bienes.

10Ciudadela fuerte es el nombre de Yahvé, en ella se refugia el justo y está seguro.

11Las riquezas son para el rico una ciudad fuerte, en su fantasía le parecen una alta muralla.

12Antes de la caída se engríe el corazón humano, y a la gloria precede la humillación.

13Quien responde antes de escuchar, muestra su insensatez y confusión.

14El espíritu sostiene al hombre en la flaqueza pero al espíritu abatido ¿quién lo sostendrá?

15El corazón prudente adquiere sabiduría, y el oído de los sabios busca doctrina.

16Los presentes allanan al hombre el camino, y lo llevan a la presencia de los magnates.

17Inocente parece el que primero expone su causa, pero viene su adversario y lo examina.

18La suerte pone fin a las contiendas, y decide entre los poderosos.

19Un hermano ofendido (resiste) más que una fortaleza, y sus querellas son como los cerrojos de una ciudadela.

20De los frutos de su boca sacia el hombre su vientre; se harta del producto de sus labios.

21La muerte y la vida están en poder de la lengua; cual sea su uso, tales serán los frutos que se comen.

22El que halla una esposa halla cosa buena, es un favor que le viene de Yahvé.

23Habla el pobre suplicando, mas el rico responde con aspereza.

24Amigos hay que solo sirven para perdición, pero hay también amigos más adictos que un hermano.

1[Occasiones quærit qui vult recedere ab amico: omni tempore erit exprobrabilis.

2Non recipit stultus verba prudentiæ, nisi ea dixeris quæ versantur in corde ejus.

3Impius, cum in profundum venerit peccatorum, contemnit; sed sequitur eum ignominia et opprobrium.

4Aqua profunda verba ex ore viri, et torrens redundans fons sapientiæ.

5Accipere personam impii non est bonum, ut declines a veritate judicii.]

6[Labia stulti miscent se rixis, et os ejus jurgia provocat.

7Os stulti contritio ejus, et labia ipsius ruina animæ ejus.

8Verba bilinguis quasi simplicia, et ipsa perveniunt usque ad interiora ventris. Pigrum dejicit timor; animæ autem effeminatorum esurient.

9Qui mollis et dissolutus est in opere suo frater est sua opera dissipantis.

10Turris fortissima nomen Domini; ad ipsum currit justus, et exaltabitur.

11Substantia divitis urbs roboris ejus, et quasi murus validus circumdans eum.

12Antequam conteratur, exaltatur cor hominis, et antequam glorificetur, humiliatur.

13Qui prius respondet quam audiat, stultum se esse demonstrat, et confusione dignum.

14Spiritus viri sustentat imbecillitatem suam; spiritum vero ad irascendum facilem quis poterit sustinere?

15Cor prudens possidebit scientiam, et auris sapientium quærit doctrinam.]

16[Donum hominis dilatat viam ejus, et ante principes spatium ei facit.

17Justus prior est accusator sui: venit amicus ejus, et investigabit eum.

18Contradictiones comprimit sors, et inter potentes quoque dijudicat.

19Frater qui adjuvatur a fratre quasi civitas firma, et judicia quasi vectes urbium.

20De fructu oris viri replebitur venter ejus, et genimina labiorum ipsius saturabunt eum.

21Mors et vita in manu linguæ; qui diligunt eam comedent fructus ejus.

22Qui invenit mulierem bonam invenit bonum, et hauriet jucunditatem a Domino. Qui expellit mulierem bonam expellit bonum; qui autem tenet adulteram stultus est et impius.

23Cum obsecrationibus loquetur pauper, et dives effabitur rigide.

24Vir amabilis ad societatem magis amicus erit quam frater.]

1He that hath a mind to depart from a friend seeketh occasions: he shall ever be subject to reproach.

2A fool receiveth not the words of prudence: unless thou say those things which are in his heart.

3The wicked man when he is come into the depth of sins, contemneth: but ignominy and reproach follow him.

4Words from the mouth of a men are as deep water: and the fountain of wisdom as an overflowing stream.

5It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to decline from the truth of judgment.

6The lips of a fool intermeddle with strife: and his mouth provoketh quarrels.

7The mouth of a fool is his destruction: and his lips are the ruin of his soul.

8The words of the double tongued are as if they were harmless: and they reach even to the inner parts of the bowels. Fear casteth down the slothful: and the souls of the effeminate shall be hungry.

9He that is loose and slack in his work, is the brother of him that wasteth his own works.

10The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the just runneth to it, and shall be exalted.

11The substance of the rich man is the city of his strength, and as a strong wall compassing him about.

12Before destruction, the heart of a man is exalted: and before he be glorified, it is humbled.

13He that answereth before he heareth sheweth himself to be a fool, and worthy of confusion.

14The spirit of a man upholdeth his infirmity: but a spirit that is easily angered, who can bear?

15A wise heart shall acquire knowledge: and the ear of the wise seeketh instruction.

16A man’s gift enlargeth his may, and maketh him room before princes.

17The just is first accuser of himself: his friend cometh, and shall search him.

18The lot suppresseth contentions, and determineth even between the mighty.

19A brother that is helped by his brother, is like a strong city: and judgments are like the bars of cities.

20Of the fruit of a man’s mouth shall his belly be satisfied: and the offspring of his lips shall fill him.

21Death and life are in the power of the tongue: they that love it, shall eat the fruits thereof.

22He that hath found a good wife, hath found a good thing, and shall receive a pleasure from the Lord. He that driveth away a good wife, driveth away a good thing: but he that keepeth an adulteress, is foolish and wicked.

23The poor will speak with supplications, and the rich will speak roughly.

24A man amiable in society, shall be more friendly than a brother.