A FRIEND WHO STICKS CLOSER THAN A BROTHER
Key verse: 24b
NIV
18 An unfriendly person pursues selfish ends
and against all sound judgment starts quarrels.
2 Fools find no pleasure in understanding
but delight in airing their own opinions.(A)
3 When wickedness comes, so does contempt,
and with shame comes reproach.
4 The words of the mouth are deep waters,(B)
but the fountain of wisdom is a rushing stream.
6 The lips of fools bring them strife,
and their mouths invite a beating.(E)
8 The words of a gossip are like choice morsels;
they go down to the inmost parts.(H)
9 One who is slack in his work
is brother to one who destroys.(I)
11 The wealth of the rich is their fortified city;(L)
they imagine it a wall too high to scale.
12 Before a downfall the heart is haughty,
but humility comes before honor.(M)
13 To answer before listening—
that is folly and shame.(N)
14 The human spirit can endure in sickness,
but a crushed spirit who can bear?(O)
15 The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge,(P)
for the ears of the wise seek it out.
16 A gift(Q) opens the way
and ushers the giver into the presence of the great.
17 In a lawsuit the first to speak seems right,
until someone comes forward and cross-examines.
18 Casting the lot settles disputes(R)
and keeps strong opponents apart.
19 A brother wronged(S) is more unyielding than a fortified city;
disputes are like the barred gates of a citadel.
20 From the fruit of their mouth a person’s stomach is filled;
with the harvest of their lips they are satisfied.(T)
23 The poor plead for mercy,
but the rich answer harshly.
24 One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin,
but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.(Y)
Cross references
- Proverbs 18:2 : S Pr 12:23
- Proverbs 18:4 : S Ps 18:16
- Proverbs 18:5 : Pr 24:23-25; 28:21
- Proverbs 18:5 : S Ps 82:2; S Pr 17:15
- Proverbs 18:6 : S Pr 10:14
- Proverbs 18:7 : Ps 140:9
- Proverbs 18:7 : S Ps 64:8; S Pr 10:14; S 12:13; S 13:3; Ecc 10:12
- Proverbs 18:8 : Pr 26:22
- Proverbs 18:9 : Pr 28:24
- Proverbs 18:10 : S Ps 61:3
- Proverbs 18:10 : S Ps 20:1; Pr 14:26
- Proverbs 18:11 : Pr 10:15
- Proverbs 18:12 : S Pr 11:2; 15:33; S 16:18
- Proverbs 18:13 : Pr 20:25
- Proverbs 18:14 : S Pr 15:13; S 17:22
- Proverbs 18:15 : S Pr 15:14
- Proverbs 18:16 : S Ge 32:13; S 1Sa 10:4; Pr 19:6
- Proverbs 18:18 : S Pr 16:33
- Proverbs 18:19 : S 1Sa 17:28
- Proverbs 18:20 : S Pr 12:14
- Proverbs 18:21 : S Ps 12:4
- Proverbs 18:21 : Pr 13:2-3; S Mt 12:37
- Proverbs 18:22 : S Pr 12:4
- Proverbs 18:22 : S Job 33:26; Pr 19:14; 31:10
- Proverbs 18:24 : S 1Sa 20:42; Jn 15:13-15
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway
ESV
18 Whoever (A)isolates himself seeks his own desire;
he breaks out against all sound judgment.
2 A fool takes no pleasure in understanding,
but only (B)in expressing his opinion.
3 When wickedness comes, contempt comes also,
and with dishonor comes disgrace.
4 The words of a man's mouth are (C)deep waters;
the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.
5 It is not good to (D)be partial to[a] the wicked
or to (E)deprive the righteous of justice.
6 A fool's lips walk into a fight,
and his mouth invites (F)a beating.
7 (G)A fool's mouth is his ruin,
and his lips are a snare to his soul.
8 (H)The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels;
they go down into (I)the inner parts of the body.
9 Whoever is slack in his work
is a (J)brother to him who destroys.
10 (K)The name of the Lord is (L)a strong tower;
the righteous man runs into it and (M)is safe.
11 (N)A rich man's wealth is his strong city,
and like a high wall in his imagination.
12 (O)Before destruction a man's heart is haughty,
but (P)humility comes before honor.
13 If one gives an answer (Q)before he hears,
it is his folly and shame.
14 A man's spirit will endure sickness,
but (R)a crushed spirit who can bear?
15 An intelligent heart acquires knowledge,
and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
16 A man's (S)gift makes room for him
and brings him before the great.
17 The one who states his case first seems right,
until the other comes and examines him.
18 (T)The lot puts an end to quarrels
and decides between powerful contenders.
19 A brother offended is more unyielding than a strong city,
and quarreling is like the bars of a castle.
20 (U)From the fruit of a man's mouth his stomach is satisfied;
he is satisfied by the yield of his lips.
21 (V)Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
and those who love it will eat its fruits.
22 He who finds (W)a wife finds (X)a good thing
and (Y)obtains favor (Z)from the Lord.
23 The poor use entreaties,
but (AA)the rich answer roughly.
24 A man of many companions may come to ruin,
but (AB)there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 18:5 Hebrew to lift the face of
Cross references
- Proverbs 18:1 : [Jude 19]
- Proverbs 18:2 : ch. 13:16; [Eccles. 10:3]
- Proverbs 18:4 : ch. 20:5
- Proverbs 18:5 : ch. 24:23; 28:21; Lev. 19:15; Deut. 1:17; Ps. 82:2
- Proverbs 18:5 : See ch. 17:15
- Proverbs 18:6 : See ch. 19:29
- Proverbs 18:7 : ch. 10:14; 12:13; 13:3; Ps. 64:8; 140:9; Eccles. 10:12
- Proverbs 18:8 : ch. 26:22; [ch. 16:28]
- Proverbs 18:8 : ch. 20:27
- Proverbs 18:9 : [ch. 28:24]
- Proverbs 18:10 : See Ex. 34:5-7
- Proverbs 18:10 : Ps. 61:3; [Ps. 18:2]; See 2 Sam. 22:3
- Proverbs 18:10 : [Ps. 20:1]
- Proverbs 18:11 : See ch. 10:15
- Proverbs 18:12 : See ch. 11:2
- Proverbs 18:12 : ch. 15:33
- Proverbs 18:13 : [John 7:51]
- Proverbs 18:14 : ch. 15:13
- Proverbs 18:16 : [Gen. 32:20; 1 Sam. 25:27]; See ch. 17:8
- Proverbs 18:18 : [ch. 16:33]
- Proverbs 18:20 : See ch. 12:14
- Proverbs 18:21 : Matt. 12:36, 37; [ch. 4:23; 12:13]
- Proverbs 18:22 : ch. 12:4; 19:14; See ch. 31:10-31
- Proverbs 18:22 : [Gen. 2:18]
- Proverbs 18:22 : ch. 8:35
- Proverbs 18:22 : ch. 19:14
- Proverbs 18:23 : [James 2:3, 6]
- Proverbs 18:24 : See ch. 17:17
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
1. The power of the tongue (21)
There are several proverbs in this chapter which warn about the importance of how we use our tongues. Words can become a substitute for thinking; they can build up; they can tear down (2,4,6,7,8,13,2
, 21,23).
2. Humility comes before honor (12)
The proud man does not want to learn; he only airs his own opinions (2). Sometimes God trains proud men by letting them fail in order to make them humble and useful to him (12). Marriage is also by God's grace and favor. One who leaves God out of his marriage is making a big mistake.
3. Our closest Friend (24)
A man who depends on many superficial friends will find himself alone at the very time he really needs a friend. But our best friend is Jesus. He is always there for us.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for the failures that have made my heart humble. Thank you for always being there for me. Because you are there, I am not lonely.
One Word: Jesus is our best friend