Proverbs 18

Retiredness to the seeking and searching after wisdom, 1. Whereunto a fool hath no desire, 2. Wise speeches, 4. The office and duty of a judge, 5. Foolish speechs, 6,7. Whispering, 8. Slothfulness in working, 9. Confidence in God, 10. In riches, 11. Of pride and humility, 12. Indiscreet answer, 13. Courage and dejectedness, 14. Increasing in knowledge, 15. Gifts, 16. Law-suits, 17. The lot, 18. Differences between brethren, 19. Fruits of the poor and rich, 23. Friends, 24.

1. He that separateth himself, [To wit, from the society of men, being inclined to live in quietness and retiredness] endeavoureth after something that is desirable: [Hebrew after desire; that is, he commonly intendeth something that is desirable, he diligently pursueth after, seeking to get it in the retiredness. Oth. Seeketh with, or, by desire] he mingleth himself in all durable wisdom. [the wise man speaketh of him, whose desire, and delight is to dive into the search, and seeking out of all good knowledge, and true wisdom, to have thereof a found knowledge and apprehension, which he may lock up in the cabinet of his heart. This sense is strongly confirmed by the opposition of the following verse. Others understand here an evil separating or withdrawing, whereby a man separateth and withdraweth himself from the truly wise and right-meaning, or right-judging ones, being moved and carried thereunto by a greedy desire after vain glory, whereunto he seeketh to attain, by insinuating himself through his crafty and cunning acute wit, into all good wisdom and learning, oppositing himself against it, and sucking his venom and poison out of it, which he afterward upon all occasions poureth out every where, with a great shew of high and transcendent wisdom.]

2. The fool hath no delight in understanding: but therein [To wit, he will have onely delight] that his heart may discover it self. [or, in the discovery of his heart; or, that he may discover his heart: to wit, by foolish speeches betraying the folly wherewith his heart is freighted.]

3. When the wicked cometh, (then) cometh also contempt; [To wit, whereby he not onely contemneth and despiseth the godly in his heart, but also affronteth and disgraceth them in words and deeds, or whereby he is contemned and despised of the godly] and with ignominy, reproach. [or, with the ignominious (person;) that is, dishonest man, cometh also reproach, to wit, whereby he reproacheth others, or is reproached of others.]

4. The words of a mans mouth [To wit, of the mouth of a man of great understanding, and respect] are deep water [that is, as deep waters, which cannot be emptied, or drained; as also such a man never wanteth matter of good instruction, when it is desired of him. Compare below chap.20.5.] and the well-spring of wisdom is a brook pouring out. [that is, that hath always floods and streams in readiness, to utter and give out at pleasure, and is never dried up.]

5. It is not good [That is, it is bad. See above chap.17.on verse 26.] to accept the face of the wicked; [see Lev.19.on verse 15. Also Deut.1.17. and 16.19. below chap.24.23.] to wrest the righteous in judgement. [that is, to cause him that hath a just cause to lose it, to lie under and to be oppressed in judgement, and to be condemned by the Judge. So Amos 5:12.]

6. The lips of [That is, the words and speeches. So in the following verse, where also the word mouth is taken in the same sense. See Job 15.on verse 5.] of a fool, enter into contention; [that is, a fool by his foolish talk thrusteth himself into strife and contention, out of which he might have tarried with better credit] and his mouth calleth for stroaks. [that is, bringeth contentious persons together, and provoketh them to fighting: or, he is not quiet till he hath gotten his back full of blows, he calleth for them.]

7. The fools mouth is a disturbance to himself; [That is, that cause of his disturbance; that is, of his ruine and destruction. Compare chap.10.14. and 13.3.] and his the lips (are) a snare of his soul. [to wit, where he is taken himself. Compare above chapter 12,13. And the annot.]

8. The words of the whisperer are as (the words) of them that are beaten: [That is, that behave themselves very mournfully, feigning themselves to have suffered wrong, to move them to pity, whose ears they fill with their whispering, and telling of tales, and to set them on against their neighbour. Oth. Are as stripes; to wit, wherewith they hurt and wound their neighbour in his good name. Compare above chapter 12.18. so below chapter 26.22. Or, are as (the words) of those that flatter; that is, sooth and cog] and they go down into the innermost (parts) [Hebrew into the inner chambers] of the belly. [that is, of the mind. See Job 15.on verse 2.]

9. Also he that behaveth himself slothful in his work [Meaning the sluggard, and lazy or slothful person] he is the brother of a waster. [that is, of a great spend-thirst. Hebrew, of the Lord waster, or, of the master of wasting, or, spending; that is, that is very prone and enclined thereunto, and maketh it his business, or whose employment. See Genesis 14.on verse 13. The meaning is, that he that is slothful in his work, or labour, is to be put in equal degree with the waster, or spend thrift, or to be compared with him. See of such signification of the word brother, Job 30:29. and the annot.]

10. The Name of the LORD, [That is, the Lord himself, see 1 Kings 5.on verse 3.] is a strong Tower; [Hebrew a tower of strength; that is, as a strong tower, wherein those that are any ways distressed, are not onely protected and defended, but also freed and delivered from all danger of hurt. So Psalms 61:4. The Lord is a strong tower, to wit, for those that know him aright, and call upon him, as they ought. Compare 2 Sam.22.51. and Psalms 18:3.] the righteous shall run unto it, [to wit, unto the Name of the Lord, or to the tower of strength] and be set in an high place of safely. [Compare Psalms 61:4. and below chap.29.25.]

11. The rich mans wealth is the city of his strength; [So above chap.10.15.] and as an exalted wall in his (own) imagination. [that is, as the rich man persuadeth himself, and fancieth in his own conceit.]

12. Before breaking, [That is, adversity, ruine, and destruction. See of the Hebrew word, Job 31.on verse 29.] the heart of man will lift up it self: [compare above chap.11.2. and 16.18.] and humility goeth before honour. [so above ch.15.33.]

13. He that giveth answer, [Hebrew he that returneth a word; that is, he answereth. So 1 Kings 12.verse 6,9. 2 Chron.10.6,9.] before he hath heard (the matter;) it is folly, and shame unto him. [that is, it is justly counted folly unto him, whereby he then getteth shame and disgrace.]

14. The spirit [That is, the mind, to wit, that is courageous and bold. See above chap.15.on verse 13.] will sustain his infirmity: [to wit, either his own infirmity, as grief, and fear, or his bodies infirmity, as sickness, and pain. All these the courageous and manly spirit is said to uphold or sustain, when it strengtheneth and comforteth a man in them, so that he fainteth not] but a dejected spirit, [which is cast down by his own, or its bodies suffering. Compare above chap.15.13. and the annot.] who shall lift it up? [as he had said, none but God can do this. Oth. Bear.]

15. The heart of him that hath understanding getteth knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge. [Men of understanding, and wise men here, are those that having gotten a beginning of understanding and wisdom, seek to increase it, by pondering and keeping in their hearts that which they have already learnt, and by listening and giving ear unto that which yet is to be learned. Compare above chap.1.5.]

16. A mans gift maketh room for him: [That is, openeth a way unto him, to come out of adversity, or to get to the end of a suit, or a trouble] and it bringeth him before the face of great (men). [that is, that are great of estate and repute, and consequently can prevail much, to further a mans cause. Compare 2 Kings 5:1. and 10.6. and 25.9. and the annot.]

17. He that is first in his (own) cause [That is, he that hath gotten the start of his neighbour in the suit, that he hath against him, by opening his cause before the Judge, and clothing, or colouring it over with reasons and garments] (seemeth) just: [that is, to be in the right, to wit, as long as his adversary hath not been yet heard] but his neighbour [to wit, the defendant] cometh, [to wit, before the Judge, to lay his cause likewise open before him] and he [to wit, the Judge, or the adverse party] searcheth him. [namely, his neighbour, that is, the defendant, to hear him likewise, and to examine him about that which the plaintiff had first alledged.]

18. The lot causeth controversies to cease; [See abo.chap.16.on verse 33.] and maketh partition between the mighty. [that is, those that harden themselves, and make themselves strong and powerful against another, or that have strength and power enough to hurt one another, if they be not united and reconciled.]

19. A brother is more refractory [Or, more provoked, by transgression, to wit, against his brother, by whom he conceiveth himself to be wronged, and therefore is at variance with him] then a strong city: [to wit, against her Prince, or any Lord, to whom she will not yield up her self, nor make peace with him, relying upon her own strength. Hebr. City of strength] and the differences [to wit, between brethren, and near kindred] are as a bar of a peace. [that is, they hold very strongly and firmly, and shut or keep out continually the contentious brethren from one another.]

20. By the fruit of a mans mouth [Meaning the speeches or communication that issueth forth out a mans mouth, and is called in the following words of this verse, the revenue of the lips. Compare above ch.12.on verse 14. And 13. On verse 2.] shall his belly [that is, he himself both in body and soul] be satisfied: he shall be satisfied by the revenue of his lips. [that is, be filled, either by the good of blessing, by his wise and godly communication, or with the evil of punishment, by his foolish and wicked discourse. Compare Job 7.on verse 4. And above ch.12.on verse 14. And 13.2.]

21. Death, and life are the power [Hebrew hand. Compare Gen.16.6. and see the annot.] of the tongue: [compare below chap.21.23. and James 3:2.] and every one that loveth it, [to wit, the tongue: namely, to use it, either for good, by wise, and virtuous speechs; or for evil, by foolish, and vicious communication. But some take it onely for a good end] shall eat [that is, enjoy with gladness, if he love it so, as to use it well; or suffer with pain and grief: if he love it so, as to abuse it. See Job 21.on verse 25.] the fruit thereof. [see above chap.1.on verse 31.]

22. Whoso hath found a wise, [To wit, a good, and godly wife. The word good must be understood from that which followeth. So below chap.22.1. name, for good name: also chap.24.6. counsellors, for good counsellor: and the same chapter, verse 20. Reward, for good reward. And chap.29.4. a King, for a good and wise King] hath found a good thing: and he hath drawn [that is, obtained] delight from the LORD. [see above ch.8.on v.35. and 12.2. comp.bel.ch.19.14.]

23. The poor speaketh intreaties: but the rich answereth hard things.

24. A man that hath friends, [Hebrew a man of friends; that is, that hath friends] must behave himself friendly: [to wit, toward those with whom he hath entered into friendship] for there is a lover, that cleaveth more [that is, sticketh closer to a man in time of need, and assisteth him more faithfully] then a brother. Compare above ch.17.17.]