Proverbs 18
Proverbs 18:1-24 (NLT)
1 Unfriendly people care only about themselves; they lash out at common sense.
2 Fools have no interest in understanding; they only want to air their own opinions.
3 Doing wrong leads to disgrace, and scandalous behavior brings contempt.
4 Wise words are like deep waters; wisdom flows from the wise like a bubbling brook.
5 It is not right to acquit the guilty or deny justice to the innocent.
6 Fools’ words get them into constant quarrels; they are asking for a beating.
7 The mouths of fools are their ruin; they trap themselves with their lips.
8 Rumors are dainty morsels that sink deep into one’s heart.
9 A lazy person is as bad as someone who destroys things.
10 The name of the LORD is a strong fortress; the godly run to him and are safe.
11 The rich think of their wealth as a strong defense; they imagine it to be a high wall of safety.
12 Haughtiness goes before destruction; humility precedes honor.
13 Spouting off before listening to the facts is both shameful and foolish.
14 The human spirit can endure a sick body, but who can bear a crushed spirit?
15 Intelligent people are always ready to learn. Their ears are open for knowledge.
16 Giving a gift can open doors; it gives access to important people!
17 The first to speak in court sounds right—until the cross-examination begins.
18 Flipping a coin can end arguments; it settles disputes between powerful opponents.
19 An offended friend is harder to win back than a fortified city. Arguments separate friends like a gate locked with bars.
20 Wise words satisfy like a good meal; the right words bring satisfaction.
21 The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.
22 The man who finds a wife finds a treasure, and he receives favor from the LORD.
23 The poor plead for mercy; the rich answer with insults.
24 There are “friends” who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother.
Many words and actions identify the foolish and ungodly vs the wise and righteous. They are like the fruit that cannot help but be born on the branches of one vs the other. While it is beneficial to clarify which behaviors identify one or the other, the way to producing them isn’t necessarily self-determination but rather finding out what it is that yields the preferred path and committing to following it with Godly passion. Understanding the power of the tongue in determining pursuits and the destination of death or life is essential in becoming a producer of wisdom’s blessings. Those producing the foolish fruit are often oblivious or even possessive of those traits the directly oppose the nature of God. The blessings of life in personal, business, family, legal, and all areas will be experienced in those who have identified with the Giver of life and abandoned all attempts to divert from His will.