Proverbs 18

¹Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom.

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).

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

2. that his heart ... itself--that is, takes pleasure in revealing his folly (Pr 12:23; 15:2).

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

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.

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

4. Wise speech is like an exhaustless stream of benefit.

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

5. accept the person--(Compare Psa 82:2). “It is not good” is to be supplied before “to overthrow.”

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

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

6-7. The quarrelsome bring trouble on themselves. Their rash language ensnares them (Pr 6:2).

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

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; Psa 22:14).

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

9. One by failing to get, the other by wasting wealth, grows poor. waster--literally, “master of washing,” a prodigal.

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

10. name of the Lord--manifested perfections (Psa 8:1; 20:2), as faithfulness, power, mercy, &c., on which men rely. is safe--literally, “set on high, out of danger” (Psa 18:2; 91:4).

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

11. contrasts with Pr 18:10 (compare Pr 10:15). Such is a vain trust (compare Psa 73:6).

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

12. (Compare Pr 15:33; 16:18).

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

13. Hasty speech evinces self-conceit, and ensures shame (Pr 26:12).

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

14. infirmity--bodily sickness, or outward evil. The spirit, which sustains, being wounded, no support is left, except, as implied, in God.

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

15. (Compare Pr 1:5, 15, 31).

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

16. (Compare Pr 17:8, 23). Disapproval of the fact stated is implied.

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

17. One-sided statements are not reliable. searcheth--thoroughly (Pr 17:9, 19).

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

18. The lot--whose disposal is of God (Pr 16:13), may, properly used, be a right mode of settling disputes.

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

19. No feuds so difficult of adjustment as those of relatives; hence great care should be used to avoid them.

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

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).

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

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).

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

22. The old versions supply “good” before the “wife,” as the last clause and Pr 19:14 imply (compare Pr 31:10).

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

23. the rich ... roughly--He is tolerated because rich, implying that the estimate of men by wealth is wrong.

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

24. A man ... friendly--better, “A man ... (is) to, or, may triumph (Psa 108:9), or, shout for joy (Psa 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.