Proverbs 18

Proverbs 18:1

1. Through desire a man having separated himself, fucketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom. This may be interpreted in a bad sense, as descriptive of a conceited person, who affects singularity, and the chew of universal learning; forward in every company to advance his own opinions: or, in a good sense, it may respect the man who, ardent in his thrift for knowledge, separates himself from all other avocations, that he may be at leisure to give himself up to the study of universal wisdom. 2. A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.

Proverbs 18:2

All the little pains a fool is driven to take, is not thro’ the love of wisdom, for that he hath no delight in; but merely to be able to make a parade of it, and appear knowing. Thus a hypocrite in religion takes no real pleasure in communion with God in prayer, or the scriptures: all his labour is by fair speeches to keep up a creditable profession. 3. When the wicked cometh, then cometh also contempt, and with ignominy reproach.

Proverbs 18:3

Either the sense is, That when the wicked hath advanced far in evil, he begins to fooff at and contempt the glorious truths of God, and treats its profession with ignominy and reproach: or, That the wicked themselves are contemptible and vile in the eyes of God and of all good men; are a reproach to their families and friends, and will shortly awake to everlasting shame and contempt. 4. ‘The words of a man’s mouth are as deep waters, and the well-spring of wisdom as a flowing brook.

Proverbs 18:4

A wise man’s heart is full of wisdom; his words, as deep waters, flow silently, and cannot be easily fathomed when he speaks the deep things of God; and as a flowing brook from the good reservoir within, he is ever sending forth those streams of instruction, which are refreshing, quickening, and conducive to the fruitfulness of all around him. 5. ‘It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment.

Proverbs 18:5

It is exceeding great wickedness to pervert justice, and, through favour or interest, to connive at, and acquit the wicked; or to give the cause against a righteous man, through prejudice, respect of persons, party, or partiality. Woe to such unjust judges! 6. A fool’s lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes. 7. ‘A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his foul. v. 6, 7. To meddle in other people’s quarrels, or by idle and insolent prating to give provocation, is the height of folly; and they who do so will smart for it with many a hard blow. Caught in his own contradictions, a fool often here ruins himself, and eternal destruction assuredly awaits him. 8. ‘The words of a tale-bearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

Proverbs 18:8

Vile and detestable is the character of the tale-bearer. His words are as wounds, mortal and incurable, flaking into the heart, and rankling there: or, as of those that are wounded; pretending to be bitterly affected with what they represent, and that it gives them pain to be obliged to mention it: or, as crafty geredity swallowed by a hungry man; so eagerly heard, and so incorporating with us as our foals. 9. He also that is slothful in his work, is brother to him that is a great waiter.

Proverbs 18:9

Idleness and prodigality are near allied, and the effects the same, issuing in the ruin of the slothful and extravagant. Thus negligence about the soul is as fatal as open and aroused ungodliness. He thus will not pray, must perish, as lately as the profane. 10. ‘The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.

Proverbs 18:10

The name of the Lord includes all his perfections, by which he makes himself known to us; and all who fly to him through Christ, by whom alone he is approachable, as their strong tower, will find deliverance from the power of evil. Whatever enemies attack, or dangers threaten, his almighty power, his unchangeable faithfulness, his infinite love, will be their support, stability, and comfort. No guilt can condemn, no corruption enslave, no wrath overtake, no fear dismay them: they are safe, eternally safe, leaning on his everlasting arms. My foul, seek this sure refuge. 11. ‘The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, and as an high wall in his own conceit.

Proverbs 18:11

How poor and wretched a defence is the rich man’s wealth, compared with the righteous man’s refuge! In conceit indeed he thinks his riches an impregnable fortress, and a wall so high that no enemy can scale it, and therefore says to his soul, Take those eats; till late conviction detects his folly; the flood of providential judgments here descends, and sweeps away his refuge of lies: or, in a day of wrath hereafter, to his terrible difappointment he finds that riches profit not. 12. ‘Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.

Proverbs 18:12

Pride is the prelude of perdition. They who are puffed up with worldly wealth, high conceit of their own attainments, either of nature or grace, stand on slippery ground, and are on the precipice of ruin: whilst humility, a low opinion of ourselves, and a humble use of what we possess, is the prelage and preparative for true honour both before God and man. 13. ‘He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.

Proverbs 18:13

A precipitate answer exposes a man’s folly; a weakness, into which quick parts are apt to betray us. It is wise to hear every circumstance before we decide, and not judge by the representation of one party, lest we should afterwards have reason to take shame for our rathness. 14. ‘The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear!’

Proverbs 18:14

All outward evils, whether afflictions of our bodies, crosses in our families, losses of our goods, reproaches on our character, &c. are supperable, by those at least who are endured with power from no high, and, as good soldiers of Jesus Christ, are injured to hardship. But the severest of our trials are within, when the spirit, which should sustain outward infirmity, is itself wounded with melancholy, dejection, or that sharpest sword, the intellectable wrath of God, a sense of which is ready to sink us Before Christ 1000. 6. Chap. 2. 14. & xii. 15. & xiii. 5. Recd. 2. 16. 6. Chap. xii. 18. & xix. 21. Heb. Chamber. 7. Sam. xxii. 11. Pl. xxiii. 1. & xxiv. 1. & xxv. 1. & xxvi. 1. & xxvii. 1. & xxviii. 1. & xxix. 1. & xxy. 1. & xxz. 1. & xxxi. 8. Chap. xii. 15. 9. Chap. xii. 1. & xx. 15. & xvi. 18. 1. John vii. 2. Heb. Resumeth a word. 2. Job vii. 1. 3. Job vii. 4.

into despair, till Jesus comes with his blood and grace to heal the broken-hearted.

15. The heart of the prudent geteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise ferketh knowledge.

Proverbs 18:15

The wise and prudent, whatever their attainments are, continually desire an increase therein; and attentive to every means of improvement, in private conversation, or the public ministry of the word, hear, that their fools may live, growing in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

16. A man’s gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.

Proverbs 18:16

In this wicked world money goes much farther than merit: it maketh room, or enlarge a man; will often buy off punishment, and open his prison-doors, or procure him a favourable hearing in a bad cause. It gains him acceth at the gates of the great, when, but for the lee, the door would be but half opened; or puts him in the way for preferment, sooner than every qualification.

17. He that is first in his own cause, ftemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and fearcheth him.

Proverbs 18:17

And alteram partem, Hear the other side, is an approved maxim both in law and private conversation. A matter may be very plausibly told, which, on cross examination, enquiring into circumstances, and hearing other witnesses, may appear grossly misrepresented, or utterly false.

18. The lot causeth contentions to cease, and parteth between the mighty.

Proverbs 18:18

When contentions arise, and the mighty quarrel, where the calc is of difficult determination, an appeal to God by lot should end the strife. By lot was Canaan divided; and if in some important concerns we solemnly, by prayer, as Atti. 20. reflect the matter to the divine determination, we should have caust to rejoice in our quiet acquiescence in his decisions. In matters of doubtful right, the lot may be a wiser recourse, than the law or the sword.

19. A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.

Proverbs 18:19

Where love is turned to hatred, and nearest relations quarrel, the resentment is ever most exasperated, and the anger most implacable. Let near relatives cultivate a spirit of forbearance and forgiveness, and, seeing the evil which would arise from a breach, be more careful to maintain the bonds of peace.

20. A man’s belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.

Proverbs 18:20

A gracious heart will appear in gracious speech, which will not only yield satisfaction and edification to others, but be a testimony for good to our own souls; for by our own words we shall be justified, and as we sow we shall reap the condoms of our good conversation.

v. Mat. xii. 17.

21. Death and life are in the power of the tongue; and they that love it, shall eat the fruit thereof.

Proverbs 18:21

Much good, or much evil, necessarily ensues from a right or wrong use of our tongues. By the tongues of false teachers and false witnesses, the hands, and finish of men are destroyed; whilst lips full of grace are the life of those who hear, and the comfort of those that speak. As men love the one or the other, so will the issue be to them, either life or death.

22. Whose findeth a wife, findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.

Proverbs 18:22

Of all earthly bleedings a good wife is the chief; and a singular influence it is of God’s favour, when, guided by his providence, we meet with such an helpmate.

v. J. m. ii. 3. 23. The poor useth intreaties, but the rich answereth roughly.

Proverbs 18:23

Mat. (1.) It becomes those who are poor, to have their spirit humbled to their condition; and when we draw near to God, we cannot have too lowly a sense of our spiritual wants and distress. (2.) Affluence is apt to elate; and they who grow rich, too often grow arrogant; but then their greatness becomes their share and curse.

24. A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that farketeth clofer than a brother.

Proverbs 18:24

Friendship must be mutual: they who love, have some title to a return in kind; and where true regard is in the heart, it will make us ready for every act of kindness. And we shall find the comfort of so doing; for the hands of affection are even stronger than those of blood; and we shall often find from a faithful friend instances of kindness and zeal for our welfare, which we never met from our nearest relations. But the best of friends is the friend of sinners, whose forpassing faithfulness and regard all who cleave to him prove by blessed experience.