Proverb 18

18 Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom.

Anyone who separates himself from the Word of God, seeks and enters a world of problems that goes against God's Word and that man will dig his own grave.

2 A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.

Anyone who thinks he will discover life without God is a fool.

3 When the wicked cometh, then cometh also contempt, and with ignominy reproach.

Anyone who approaches anything in life without wisdom travels with an arrogant attitude with shame. 

4 The words of a man's mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook.

Deep Waters are dangerous.  A wellspring of water flows and it is very resourceful.

Compare a man's dept of water to God's Word which is a flow of steady moving water like a river.  It is calming, and animals drink from the steady flow.

In deep waters, you can pull up live and dead things.  In our mouths, we should be consistent in what we have stored.  Our mouths should be a mouth that when we talk, we have no hidden surprises.

5 It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment.

Do not change God's Laws.

6 A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes.

Do not meddle with the business you have nothing to do with.  If you do, you are asking for serious trouble.

7 A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.

Anyone who lacks knowledge and talks as if he does is a fool and he will dig his own grave with his own words.

8 The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

Hurtful words are as wounds, and they hurt in the most secret places of the body.

9 He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.

Lazy people and a waster are related.

10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.

God's name has power! Those who know Him go to His Word and are safe.  He has many names and all them all safe and powerful.

11 The rich man's wealth is his strong city, and as an high wall in his own conceit.

The rich man thinks his stuff is his strength and he fools himself.

12 Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.

A haughty, arrogant spirit leads to destruction, and humility, a humble, modest spirit is followed by honor.

13 He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.

Talking without the truth will lead to an embarrassing outcome.

14 The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?

A good attitude is healthy to weaknesses: but a bad attitude does no one any good.

15 The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.

Hardworking people gain knowledge and those that listen seek knowledge.

16 A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.

God gave men gifts and the gifts God gave will be seen by men who have power.

17 He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him.

Any story sounds true until you hear both sides.

18 The lot causeth contentions to cease, and parteth between the mighty.

Selecting a person between 2 parties ends the campaign.

19 A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.

An offended man is hard to deal with.

20 A man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.

The words you speak will fill your appetite and when your appetite is full and has increased, he will be filled also.

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

How you use your tongue will determine if you will live or die: and how you use your words will determine what you love.

22 Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the Lord.

God gives a man favor when he finds a good wife.

23 The poor useth entreaties; but the rich answereth roughly.

The poor have to be persuasive to be heard, but a rich man does not have to be careful with his words.

24 A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

Anyone who has friends must be friendly:  and there is a friend who will stick by you more than your blood brother.