Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · Proverbs Kabanata 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.