12 Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.
13 He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.
14 The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?
15 The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.
16 A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.
17 He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him.
18 The lot causeth contentions to cease, and parteth between the mighty.
19 A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.
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
12 Before destruction the heart of man is haughty; And before honor `goeth' humility.
13 He that giveth answer before he heareth, It is folly and shame unto him.
14 The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; But a broken spirit who can bear?
15 The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; And the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.
16 A man's gift maketh room for him, And bringeth him before great men.
17 He that pleadeth his cause first `seemeth' just; But his neighbor cometh and searcheth him out.
18 The lot causeth contentions to cease, And parteth between the mighty.
19 A brother offended `is harder to be won' than a strong city; And `such' contentions are like the bars of a castle.
12 Before destruction the heart of man is high, And before honour `is' humility.
13 Whoso is answering a matter before he heareth, Folly it is to him and shame.
14 The spirit of a man sustaineth his sickness, And a smitten spirit who doth bear?
15 The heart of the intelligent getteth knowledge, And the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.
16 The gift of a man maketh room for him, And before the great it leadeth him.
17 Righteous `is' the first in his own cause, His neighbour cometh and hath searched him.
18 The lot causeth contentions to cease, And between the mighty it separateth.
19 A brother transgressed against is as a strong city, And contentions as the bar of a palace.
12 Before destruction the heart of man is haughty; and before honour [goeth] humility.
13 He that giveth answer before he heareth, it is folly and shame unto him.
14 The spirit of a man sustaineth his infirmity; but a broken spirit who can bear?
15 The heart of an intelligent [man] getteth knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.
16 A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.
17 He that is first in his own cause [seemeth] just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him.
18 The lot causeth contentions to cease, and parteth between the mighty.
19 A brother offended is [harder to be won] than a strong city; and contentions are as the bars of a palace.
12 Before destruction the heart of man is proud, But before honor is humility.
13 He who gives answer before he hears, That is folly and shame to him.
14 A man's spirit will sustain him in sickness, But a crushed spirit, who can bear?
15 The heart of the discerning gets knowledge. The ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
16 A man's gift makes room for him, And brings him before great men.
17 He who pleads his cause first seems right; Until another comes and questions him.
18 The lot settles disputes, And keeps strong ones apart.
19 A brother offended is more difficult than a fortified city; And disputes are like the bars of a castle.
12 Before destruction the heart of man is full of pride, and before honour goes a gentle spirit.
13 To give an answer before hearing is a foolish thing and a cause of shame.
14 The spirit of a man will be his support when he is ill; but how may a broken spirit be lifted up?
15 The heart of the man of good sense gets knowledge; the ear of the wise is searching for knowledge.
16 A man's offering makes room for him, letting him come before great men.
17 The man who first puts his cause before the judge seems to be in the right; but then his neighbour comes and puts his cause in its true light.
18 The decision of chance puts an end to argument, parting the strong.
19 A brother wounded is like a strong town, and violent acts are like a locked tower.
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.