Proverbs 18:3-18

³Whenever people do wicked things, others will despise them; when people do things that cause themselves to no longer be honored, they will be disgraced also.

⁴What wise people say is like a deep ocean that you can never get to the bottom of MET, and it refreshes us like water from a rapidly flowing stream.

⁵It is not good for a judge to decide matters in favor of those who ◄are guilty/have done wicked things► and to not do what is just for those who ◄are innocent/have not done what is wrong►.

⁶When foolish people SYN start arguments, it is as though they SYN are requesting/inviting someone to flog/whip them.

⁷What foolish people MTY say causes them to be ruined; their own words are like a trap MET that catches/seizes them.

⁸People enjoy listening to what gossips say like SIM they enjoy tasty food; they accept what gossips tell them like MET they swallow tasty food.

⁹People who are lazy while they work are just as bad as IDM those who destroy things.

¹⁰Yahweh MTY is like a strong tower MET; righteous people can go to him and be safe like they can run to a tower to be safe.

¹¹Rich people are protected because they have a lot of money PRS like a city is protected because it has a high wall surrounding it SIM.

¹²Proud people are on the road to being ruined, but being humble leads to being honored.

¹³Those who reply to someone before that person has finished speaking are foolish; doing that is disgraceful.

¹⁴A desire to continue to live can sustain someone when he is sick; if he loses that desire, he ◄cannot endure it/will become very discouraged► when he is sick RHQ.

¹⁵Intelligent people are always wanting to learn more; wise people SYN are not content with what they already know.

¹⁶If you take a gift to an important person, that will open the way to allow you to talk to him.

¹⁷The first person to present his case in court seems right, but when ◄someone else/his opponent► begins to ask him questions, it may become clear that what he said was not true.

¹⁸If two influential/important people are arguing, someone can settle the matter by ◄casting lots/throwing marked stones to decide who is right►.