1 Through desire H8378 a man, having separated H6504 himself, seeketh H1245 and intermeddleth H1566 with all wisdom. H8454
My son, H1121 if thou wilt receive H3947 my words, H561 and hide H6845 my commandments H4687 with thee; So that thou incline H7181 thine ear H241 unto wisdom, H2451 and apply H5186 thine heart H3820 to understanding; H8394 Yea, if thou criest H7121 after knowledge, H998 and liftest up H5414 thy voice H6963 for understanding; H8394 If thou seekest H1245 her as silver, H3701 and searchest H2664 for her as for hid treasures; H4301 Then shalt thou understand H995 the fear H3374 of the LORD, H3068 and find H4672 the knowledge H1847 of God. H430 For the LORD H3068 giveth H5414 wisdom: H2451 out of his mouth H6310 cometh knowledge H1847 and understanding. H8394
See G991 then G3767 that G4459 ye walk G4043 circumspectly, G199 not G3361 as G5613 fools, G781 but G235 as G5613 wise, G4680 Redeeming G1805 the time, G2540 because G3754 the days G2250 are G1526 evil. G4190 Wherefore G1223 G5124 be ye G1096 not G3361 unwise, G878 but G235 understanding G4920 what G5101 the will G2307 of the Lord G2962 is.
The heart H3820 knoweth H3045 his own H5315 bitterness; H4787 and a stranger H2114 doth not intermeddle H6148 with his joy. H8057
And G2532 he said G3004 unto them, G846 Unto you G5213 it is given G1325 to know G1097 the mystery G3466 of the kingdom G932 of God: G2316 but G1161 unto them G1565 that are without, G1854 all these things G3956 are done G1096 in G1722 parables: G3850
And to speak H559 unto the priests H3548 which were in the house H1004 of the LORD H3068 of hosts, H6635 and to the prophets, H5030 saying, H559 Should I weep H1058 in the fifth H2549 month, H2320 separating H5144 myself, as I have done H6213 these so many years? H8141
The beginning H7225 of strife H4066 is as when one letteth out H6362 water: H4325 therefore leave off H5203 contention, H7379 before H6440 it be meddled H1566 with.
For wherein shall it be known H3045 here H645 that I and thy people H5971 have found H4672 grace H2580 in thy sight? H5869 is it not in that thou goest H3212 with us? so shall we be separated, H6395 I and thy people, H5971 from all the people H5971 that are upon the face H6440 of the earth. H127
Yea, in the way H734 of thy judgments, H4941 O LORD, H3068 have we waited H6960 for thee; the desire H8378 of our soul H5315 is to thy name, H8034 and to the remembrance H2143 of thee. With my soul H5315 have I desired H183 thee in the night; H3915 yea, with my spirit H7307 within H7130 me will I seek thee early: H7836 for when thy judgments H4941 are in the earth, H776 the inhabitants H3427 of the world H8398 will learn H3925 righteousness. H6664
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Proverbs 18
Commentary on Proverbs 18 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 18
Pro 18:1
The original here is difficult, and differently understood.
Pro 18:2
A fool may pretend to understanding, and to seek and intermeddle with the means of it, but,
Pro 18:3
This may include a double sense:-
Pro 18:4
The similitudes here seem to be elegantly transposed.
Pro 18:5
This justly condemns those who, being employed in the administration of justice, pervert judgment,
Pro 18:6-7
Solomon has often shown what mischief bad men do to others with their ungoverned tongues; here he shows what mischief they do to themselves.
Pro 18:8
Tale-bearers are those who secretly carry stories from house to house, which perhaps have some truth in them, but are secrets not fit to be told, or are basely misrepresented, and false colours put upon them, and are all told with design to blast men's reputation, to break their friendship, to make mischief between relations and neighbours, and set them at variance. Now the words of such are here said to be,
Pro 18:9
Note,
Pro 18:10
Here is,
Pro 18:11
Having described the firm and faithful defence of the righteous man (v. 10), Solomon here shows what is the false and deceitful defence of the rich man, that has his portion and treasure in the things of this world, and sets his heart upon them. His wealth is as much his confidence, and he expects as much from it, as a godly man from his God. See,
Pro 18:12
Note,
Pro 18:13
See here how men often expose themselves by that very thing by which they hope to gain applause.
Pro 18:14
Note,
Pro 18:15
Note,
Pro 18:16
Of what great force gifts (that is, bribes) are he had intimated before, ch. 17:8, 23. Here he shows the power of gifts, that is, presents made even by inferiors to those that are above them and have much more than they have. A good present will go far,
Pro 18:17
This shows that one tale is good till another is told.
Pro 18:18
Note,
Pro 18:19
Note,
Pro 18:20
Note,
Pro 18:21
Note,
Pro 18:22
Note,
Pro 18:23
Note,
Pro 18:24
Solomon here recommends friendship to us, and shows,