Proverbs 18

— but a wounded spirit who can bear?] The words admit also of being rendered, “a wounded (or dejected) spirit who can raise it up?” As both senses are true and pertinent, we may well take the passage in both; for the misery of a broken spirit is, that it is very hard to be borne, and that it is without remedy or support. The words may be understood, not of a wounded conscience merely, but of a wounded spirit in general, wounded by grief, and sinking under its load of troubles, no particular cause of trouble being expressed. They contain a caution against yielding too far to any troubles or misfortunes, against letting our spirits sink, or our courage fail us in our day of calamity. Dr. Waterland.

Chap. XIX. ver. 1. — than he that is perverse &c.] Than he that gathers great riches by fraud and circumvention, which he takes to be cunning, but which will prove folly in the end. Bp. Patrick. 2. — he that hasteth sinneth. “He that hasteth— stumbleth or falleth.” He that comes rashly to his determinations, without weighing all the circumstances, cannot but stumble and err. Bp. Hall. 3. The foolishness of man &c. Men commit numberless errors through ignorance or inconsideration, and so miss their ends; and then their heart frets not against themselves for their misfortunes, but against the Lord, as if providence were unkind to them. Dr. Wells.

Proverbs 18:4

4. The words of a man’s mouth &c.] This sentence expresses the depth, the abundance, the clearness, and the force of the counsels of the wise man. Calmet.

Proverbs 18:5

5. — to accept the person of the wicked.] To shew favour or partiality to the wicked. Calmet. See Job xiii. 8. 10.

Proverbs 18:6

6. — his mouth calleth for strokes.] He increases a difference which may arise between others, till from words they come to blows. Bp. Patrick.

Proverbs 18:8

8. — are as wounds.] The Hebrew word here rendered “wounds,” occurs no where else in the Bible, and translators have differed much in rendering the verse. “The words of the talebearer inflict a deadly wound on those who are the objects of his calumny, and sink deep into the minds of all who hear them.” Bp. Patrick. The Hebrew word is allied to one in Arabic, which signifies “to swallow quickly or greedily.” Thus perhaps the meaning may be, “are like dainties which are eagerly swallowed up by those who hear them.” Schultens. Otherwise, “are like subtle poisons, which insinuate themselves, and produce their effects insensibly, for they penetrate into the inward parts of the belly, where they lie rankling and gnawing the vitals.” Dr. Durell.

Proverbs 18:9

9. — is brother to him] Is little better than he that is a great spender; he equally consumes the estate with which he is entrusted. Bp. Hall. See the note on Job xxx. 29.

Proverbs 18:10

10. Delight is not seemly for a fool;] A foolish man is unable to make a good use of pleasures; he will use them without rule and without measure, and will often destroy himself by them. Calmet. — — much less for a servant &c.] Power is still less suited to a vile slave, who is intolerably insolent when he can wantonly domineer over the greatest persons. Bp. Patrick.

Proverbs 18:11

11. The rich man’s wealth is his strong city.] This verse seems opposed to the preceding. The righteous rests all his strength on God, the name of God is his strong tower; but the rich man regards his riches as an impregnable fortress. Calmet.

Proverbs 18:12

12. — as the roaring of a lion; &c.] The roaring of a lion, it is said, is so terrible, that in a wild state all other animals fly away in consternation at the very sound. In the same manner, cruel and headstrong kings spread on every side alarm and consternation. Calmet. — — as dew upon the grass. ] In hot Eastern climates, where it rarely rains in summer, the copious dews which fall during the night, contribute greatly to the nourish-

Proverbs 18:13

13. — are a continual dropping. ] Like a roof which continually drops with rain. Implying, that it is not more difficult to live in a house with such a roof, than with a quarrelsome woman. Calmet. The old English version explains “continual dropping” by “rain that droppeth and rotteth a house;” perhaps the meaning may be, like the continued dropping of the eaves of a house, or any continued gentle falling of water, than which nothing is apt to be more tiresome or distracting. Dr. Durell.

Proverbs 18:14

14. The spirit of a man &c.] A resolute and un-

15. — a prudent wife is from the Lord.] A prudent and virtuous wife is an especial blessing from God. Bp. Hall.

Proverbs 18:15

15. — casteth into a deep sleep;] Insensibly sinks the mind into a dull stupidity and unconcernedness about necessary things. Bp. Patrick. 16. — he that despiseth his ways. Cares not in how disorderly a manner he lives. Dr. Wells.

Proverbs 18:16

16. — maketh room for him, &c.] Opens a way for him, and procures him admittance before great men. Calmet. See note on Gen. xxi. 27.

Proverbs 18:17

17. He that is first &c.] He that is first in telling his own cause, seems to have justice on his side; but his neighbour cometh and examines what was said by him, and then shews the falsity of it. Dr. Wells.

18. He that hath pity &c.] He that hath compassion on the poor, and relieves their necessities, does not impovcrish but enrich himself. For the Lord considers that which is given to the poor as lent to Himself, and will not fail to make a full compensation, returning the benefit he hath done to others with large interest and increase of blessings on himself and his posterity. Bp. Patrick. Sir Thomas More, a famous Lord Chancellor of England, used always to say, “There was more rhetorick,” Before CHRIST about 1000. heart. e Ver. 5. f Eccles. 10. 6. ch. 30. 22. g Chap. 14. 29. prudence. h Chap. 16. 15. & 20. 2. & 28. 15. i Chap. 10. 1. & 15. 20. & 17. 21. 25. k Chap. 21. 9. & 27. 15. l Chap. 18. 22. m Chap. 10. 4. & 20. 13. n Luke 11. 28. o Matt. 10. 42. & 23. 40.

Proverbs 18:18

18. The lot causeth contentions &c.] In some cases of difficult adjustment, the casting of lots is an equal way of determining the controversy, and of putting each party in quiet possession of that which falls to his share. Bp. Patrick.

Proverbs 18:22

22. Whoso findeth a wife] The Greek and almost all the old versions read, “whoso findeth a good wife.” Dr. Durell. The meaning is, “one who truly answers to the character of a wife.” Dr. Wells. “Obtaineth favour of the Lord;” hath met with an excellent bless-

Moral virtues, and their contrary vices. Before CHRIST about 1000.