Proverbs 18

Proverbs 18:1

18:1 The difficulty of this proverb is evident from the widely different interpretations that are given. A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire; he rages against all wise judgment. This is the nonconformist who is going to have his own way even if it conflicts with tested knowledge or approved methods. He flies in the face of sound wisdom by his self-assertion. The RSV is quite different: “He who is estranged seeks pretexts to break out against all sound judgment.” In other words, the man who becomes alienated looks for excuses to justify all kinds of irresponsible conduct. Knox’s translation is somewhat similar and needs no explanation: “None so quick to find pretexts, as he that would break with a friend; he is in fault continually.” Jewish commentators understand the proverb to commend the life of separation from sin and folly. The man who does this desires his own higher interests and mingles himself with all true wisdom. But this interpretation is improbable, though true. 18:2 A fool refuses to listen to people with understanding; he is interested only in expressing his own heart, or in displaying what he is. 18:3 When the wicked comes, contempt comes also; and with dishonor comes reproach. This is another way of saying that outward shame and reproach come on the heels of inward wickedness and baseness. 18:4 Generally speaking, the words of a man’s mouth don’t give him away. They are deep waters hiding his true thoughts and motives. By way of contrast, the fountain of wisdom is a gushing, flowing brook. In other words, wisdom’s message is clear and transparent. Moffatt understands the verses as saying that the words of a wise man are a deep pool, a flowing stream, and a fountain of life. They are profound, not shallow; flowing, not brackish; refreshing, not insipid. 18:5 God here condemns the reversal of moral judgments. To show partiality to the wicked is, in effect, condoning their wickedness. To deprive the righteous of justice is what Lowell called putting Truth on the scaffold and Wrong on the throne. 18:6 A loudmouthed fool is always trying to pick a fight or start trouble. A drunkard excels at this, but all he succeeds in doing is bringing black eyes, contusions, and abrasions on himself. 18:7 A fool’s speech is his downfall. His reckless and foul language bring about his eventual ruin. 18:8 The words of a talebearer are like delicious tidbits; they are eagerly devoured by the listeners. It is almost as if the listeners say, “Yum, yum. I like that. Tell me more!” 18:9 The lazy or slothful man has much in common with a destroyer; they both cause great havoc or devastation. Griffiths warns: We know today that it is shoddy workmanship in cars, airplanes, buildings, and the like which is the cause of fatal accidents. This is also true in some offices and leadership in the church, where negligence of responsibility may lead to a breakdown of fellowship. A church may be disintegrated through foolish negligence and laziness as well as by Satanic attack. 18:10 The name of the LORD stands for the Lord Himself. The Lord is a place of refuge and protection for those who trust in Him. Therefore, in the moment of fierce temptation, call upon the name of the Lord, and He will preserve you from sinning. 18:11 The rich man trusts his wealth to protect him. In his own esteem, he thinks it will serve like a high wall to guard him from danger of every kind. But his riches fail him when he needs them most. Verse 10 is fact: verse 11 is fiction. The righteous man of verse 10 trusts in fact, the rich man of verse 11 in fiction. 18:12 Pride has one foot in the grave and another on a banana skin. Humility walks securely toward honor. William Law draws the contrast sharply: “Look not at pride only as an unbecoming temper, nor at humility as a decent virtueone is all hell and the other all heaven.” 18:13 A man should get all the facts before giving his opinion. Otherwise he will be embarrassed when the full details are made known. There are two sides to every question: every divorce, every quarrel, etc. Don’t agree with a person if you have not heard the other person’s side. 18:14 A man’s spirit can bear up under all kinds of physical infirmities, but a broken spirit is far more difficult to endure. Emotional problems are often more serious than physical ailments. Dr. Paul Adolph tells of an elderly patient who was recovering satisfactorily in the hospital from a broken hip. When it was time for her to go home, her daughter told her that arrangements had been made for her to go to an old people’s home. Within a few hours, the patient showed general physical deterioration and she died in less than a day"not of a broken hip but of a broken heart." A man who had faced the horrors of concentration camp with gallantry discovered after his release that it was his own son who had informed on him. “The discovery beat him to his knees and he died. He could bear the attack of an enemy, but the attack of one whom he loved killed him.” 18:15 The wise man never comes to the place where he ceases to learn. His mind is always open to instruction, and his ear is receptive to knowledge. 18:16 A man’s bribe or gratuity buys his way into the presence of those whom he wishes to influence. It is also true, as the proverb is sometimes used, that a man’s spiritual gift provides opportunities for him to exercise it. If he can teach or preach the Word, for instance, he will have plenty of openings. But that is not the meaning of this verse. 18:17 When a man tells his side of the story, it seems very convincing and you are apt to believe him. But when his neighbor comes and asks him a few leading questions, then it may appear that he was not so right after all. 18:18 When believers in the OT cast lots, they were actually appealing to the Lord to settle matters for which they felt themselves inadequate. The lot provided a just and peaceful settlement of matters between powerful contenders who might otherwise have resorted to force. We too should let the Lord be the final Judge when difficulties arise with others. We can do this, not by casting lots, but by reading and obeying the Bible, by confessing our faults one to another, by prayer, and by the inward witness of the Spirit. 18:19 Quarrels between close relatives are often the hardest to mend. It is easier to conquer a fortified city than to effect reconciliation between offended brothers. Their contentions are like the bars of a castlecold, straight, and immovable. Civil wars are always the bitterest. 18:20 We sometimes say that a man has to eat his words. If they have been good words, they will yield satisfaction to him. He will be rewarded according to the nature of his speech. 18:21 The tongue has great potential for good or evil. Those who love to use it a lot must be prepared to take the consequences. 18:22 The word “good” is implied before wife. A man who finds a good wife finds a treasure. It is a token of the Lord’s favor when he finds a godly, helpful bride. 18:23 Poor people often speak softly, humbly, pleadingly. Rich people, on the other hand, can respond roughly and be overbearing, but not all rich people have bad manners! 18:24 Here again we have a proverb with many interpretations. A man who has friends must himself be friendly. If we follow the KJV and NKJV, the thought is that friendliness wins friends, and that some friends are closer than others. The NASB, ASV, NKJV margin, and JND say that a man who has many friends will come to ruin, but that there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. This means that it is better to have one true friend than a host of friends who will lead you astray. The RSV reads, “There are friends who pretend to be friends, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” This presents a contrast between fair-weather friends and those who are loyal through thick and thin. Happily, most versions agree on the second linethat there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. G. Campbell Morgan writes: All consideration of this great verse leads us at last to one place, to One Person. He is the Friend of sinners. There comment ceases. Let the heart wonder and worship.