1 Through desire H8378 a man, having separated H6504 himself, seeketh H1245 and intermeddleth H1566 with all wisdom. H8454
2 A fool H3684 hath no delight H2654 in understanding, H8394 but that his heart H3820 may discover H1540 itself.
3 When the wicked H7563 cometh, H935 then cometh H935 also contempt, H937 and with ignominy H7036 reproach. H2781
4 The words H1697 of a man's H376 mouth H6310 are as deep H6013 waters, H4325 and the wellspring H4726 of wisdom H2451 as a flowing H5042 brook. H5158
5 It is not good H2896 to accept H5375 the person H6440 of the wicked, H7563 to overthrow H5186 the righteous H6662 in judgment. H4941
6 A fool's H3684 lips H8193 enter H935 into contention, H7379 and his mouth H6310 calleth H7121 for strokes. H4112
7 A fool's H3684 mouth H6310 is his destruction, H4288 and his lips H8193 are the snare H4170 of his soul. H5315
8 The words H1697 of a talebearer H5372 are as wounds, H3859 and they go down H3381 into the innermost parts H2315 of the belly. H990
9 He also that is slothful H7503 in his work H4399 is brother H251 to him that is a great H1167 waster. H7843
10 The name H8034 of the LORD H3068 is a strong H5797 tower: H4026 the righteous H6662 runneth H7323 into it, and is safe. H7682
11 The rich man's H6223 wealth H1952 is his strong H5797 city, H7151 and as an high H7682 wall H2346 in his own conceit. H4906
12 Before H6440 destruction H7667 the heart H3820 of man H376 is haughty, H1361 and before H6440 honour H3519 is humility. H6038
13 He that answereth H7725 a matter H1697 before he heareth H8085 it, it is folly H200 and shame H3639 unto him.
14 The spirit H7307 of a man H376 will sustain H3557 his infirmity; H4245 but a wounded H5218 spirit H7307 who can bear? H5375
15 The heart H3820 of the prudent H995 getteth H7069 knowledge; H1847 and the ear H241 of the wise H2450 seeketh H1245 knowledge. H1847
16 A man's H120 gift H4976 maketh room H7337 for him, and bringeth H5148 him before H6440 great men. H1419
17 He that is first H7223 in his own cause H7379 seemeth just; H6662 but his neighbour H7453 cometh H935 H935 and searcheth H2713 him.
18 The lot H1486 causeth contentions H4079 to cease, H7673 and parteth H6504 between the mighty. H6099
19 A brother H251 offended H6586 is harder to be won than a strong H5797 city: H7151 and their contentions H4079 H4066 are like the bars H1280 of a castle. H759
20 A man's H376 belly H990 shall be satisfied H7646 with the fruit H6529 of his mouth; H6310 and with the increase H8393 of his lips H8193 shall he be filled. H7646
21 Death H4194 and life H2416 are in the power H3027 of the tongue: H3956 and they that love H157 it shall eat H398 the fruit H6529 thereof.
22 Whoso findeth H4672 a wife H802 findeth H4672 a good H2896 thing, and obtaineth H6329 favour H7522 of the LORD. H3068
23 The poor H7326 useth H1696 intreaties; H8469 but the rich H6223 answereth H6030 roughly. H5794
24 A man H376 that hath friends H7453 must shew himself friendly: H7489 and there is H3426 a friend H157 that sticketh closer H1695 than a brother. H251
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Proverbs 18
Commentary on Proverbs 18 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 18
Pr 18:1-24.
1. Through desire … seeketh—that is, seeks selfish gratification.
intermeddleth … wisdom—or, "rushes on" (Pr 17:14) against all wisdom, or what is valuable (Pr 2:7).
2. that his heart … itself—that is, takes pleasure in revealing his folly (Pr 12:23; 15:2).
3. So surely are sin and punishment connected (Pr 16:4).
wicked, for "wickedness," answers to
ignominy, or the state of such; and
contempt, the feeling of others to them; and to
reproach, a manifestation of contempt.
4. Wise speech is like an exhaustless stream of benefit.
5. accept the person—(Compare Ps 82:2). "It is not good" is to be supplied before "to overthrow."
6, 7. The quarrelsome bring trouble on themselves. Their rash language ensnares them (Pr 6:2).
8. (Compare Pr 16:28).
as wounds—not sustained by the Hebrew; better, as "sweet morsels," which men gladly swallow.
innermost … belly—the mind, or heart (compare Pr 20:27-30; Ps 22:14).
9. One by failing to get, the other by wasting wealth, grows poor.
waster—literally, "master of washing," a prodigal.
10. name of the Lord—manifested perfections (Ps 8:1; 20:2), as faithfulness, power, mercy, &c., on which men rely.
is safe—literally, "set on high, out of danger" (Ps 18:2; 91:4).
11. contrasts with Pr 18:10 (compare Pr 10:15). Such is a vain trust (compare Ps 73:6).
12. (Compare Pr 15:33; 16:18).
13. Hasty speech evinces self-conceit, and ensures shame (Pr 26:12).
14. infirmity—bodily sickness, or outward evil. The spirit, which sustains, being wounded, no support is left, except, as implied, in God.
15. (Compare Pr 1:5, 15, 31).
16. (Compare Pr 17:8, 23). Disapproval of the fact stated is implied.
17. One-sided statements are not reliable.
searcheth—thoroughly (Pr 17:9, 19).
18. The lot—whose disposal is of God (Pr 16:13), may, properly used, be a right mode of settling disputes.
19. No feuds so difficult of adjustment as those of relatives; hence great care should be used to avoid them.
20. (Compare Pr 12:14; 13:2). Men's words are the fruit, or, increase of his lips, and when good, benefit them.
satisfied with—(Compare Pr 1:31; 14:14).
21. Death and life—or, the greatest evil and good.
that love it—that is, the tongue, or its use for good or evil.
eat … fruit—(Compare Pr 18:19; Jas 1:19).
22. The old versions supply "good" before the "wife," as the last clause and Pr 19:14 imply (compare Pr 31:10).
23. the rich … roughly—He is tolerated because rich, implying that the estimate of men by wealth is wrong.
24. A man … friendly—better, "A man … (is) to, or, may triumph (Ps 108:9), or, shout for joy (Ps 5:11), that is, may congratulate himself." Indeed, there is a Friend who is better than a brother; such is the "Friend of sinners" [Mt 11:19; Lu 7:34], who may have been before the writer's mind.