Proverbs 18:12-24

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

¹³One who answers before listening— it is his folly and shame.

¹⁴A person's spirit will survive sickness, but a broken spirit who can bear it?

¹⁵The heart of the intelligent acquires knowledge and the hearing of the wise seeks it out.

¹⁶A man's gift may open the way and bring him before an important person.

¹⁷The first to plead his case seems right until his opponent comes and questions him.

¹⁸Casting the lot settles disputes and separates strong opponents.

¹⁹An offended brother is harder to be won than a strong city, and quarreling is like the bars of a castle.

²⁰From the fruit of his mouth one's stomach is filled; with the harvest of his lips he is satisfied.

²¹Death and life are controlled by the tongue, and those who love the tongue will eat its fruit.

²²He who finds a wife finds a good thing and receives favor from Yahweh.

²³A poor person pleads for mercy, but a rich person answers harshly.

²⁴The one who claims many friends is brought to ruin by them, but there is a friend who comes closer than a brother.