Proverbs 18
OGCNOTICEABLE GROUPINGS IN CHAPTER 18
Speech
The words of a man’s mouth are as deep waters (Proverbs 18:4).
A fool’s lips enter into contention, And his mouth calleth for stripes (Proverbs 18:6).
A fool’s mouth is his destruction, And his lips are the snare of his soul (Proverbs 18:7).
The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, And they go down into the innermost parts (Proverbs 18:8).
He that giveth answer before he heareth, It is folly and shame unto him (Proverbs 18:13).
A man’s belly shall be filled with the fruit of his mouth; With the increase of his lips shall he be satisfied (Proverbs 18:20).
Death and life are in the power of the tongue (Proverbs 18:21).
The poor useth entreaties; But the rich answereth roughly (Proverbs 18:23).
Fools
A fool hath no delight in understanding, But only that his heart may reveal itself (Proverbs 18:2).
A fool’s lips enter into contention, And his mouth calleth for stripes (Proverbs 18:6).
A fool’s mouth is his destruction, And his lips are the snare of his soul (Proverbs 18:7).
He that giveth answer before he heareth, It is folly and shame unto him (Proverbs 18:13).
Rich
The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, And as a high wall in his own imagination (Proverbs 18:11).
The rich answereth roughly (Proverbs 18:23).
Wicked
When the wicked cometh, there cometh also contempt (Proverbs 18:3).
To respect the person of the wicked is not good (Proverbs 18:5).
Wisdom
The wellspring of wisdom is as a flowing brook (Proverbs 18:4).
The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; And the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge (Proverbs 18:15).
Righteous
Not good…to turn aside the righteous in judgment (Proverbs 18:5).
The righteous runneth into it, and is safe (Proverbs 18:10).
Destruction
The fool’s mouth is his destruction (Proverbs 18:7).
Before destruction the heart of man is haughty (Proverbs 18:12).
He that maketh many friends doeth it to his own destruction (Proverbs 18:24).
THE BLESSINGS OF WISDOM
We should appreciate the splendid words concerning the desirableness of wisdom in Proverbs 4:5-13: Get wisdom, get understanding; forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee. Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom; and with all thy getting get understanding. Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her. She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee. Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many. I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths. When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble. Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go; keep her; for she is thy life.
Proverbs 2:10-17 is another fine passage showing the usefulness of wisdom: When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul; discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee: to deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things; who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness; who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the forwardness of the wicked; whose ways are crooked, and they forward in their paths: to deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the stranger which flattereth with her words. Nothing like wisdom can preserve a person from crooked men and wicked women.
Consider other smaller passages on the subject of wisdom:
Proverbs 12:8: A man shall be commended according to his wisdom. Other things being as they should be, a man of wisdom is a well respected man. His advice is often sought, His word carries weight. His very person embodies a dignity.
Proverbs 13:20: He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed. This passage shows the importance of proper association. Choosing fools as one’s companions does not lead to great things in one’s life, but walking with wise men does.
Proverbs 19:2: That the soul be without knowledge, it is not good. Here is a real appeal to be an informed soul, to know the things we should, to appreciate the privileges of learning and to take advantage of them.
Proverbs 19:27: Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge. There is false knowledge that leads astray. In this passage, the father warns the son about receiving false instruction and counsel.
Proverbs 24:3-5: Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established: and by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches. A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength. Yes, wisdom is strength, and knowledge leads to many victories.
Proverbs 18:1-12
CHAPTER 18 TEXT Proverbs 18:1-12
He that separateth himself seeketh his own desire,
And rageth against all sound wisdom.
A fool hath no delight in understanding,
But only that his heart may reveal itself.
When the wicked cometh, there cometh also contempt,
And with ignominy cometh reproach.
The words of a man’s mouth are as deep waters;
The wellspring of wisdom is as a flowing brook.
To respect the person of the wicked is not good,
Not to turn aside the righteous in judgment.
A fool’s lips enter into contention,
And his lips are the snare of his soul.
A fool’s mouth is his destruction,
And his lips are the snare of his soul.
The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels,
And they go down into the innermost parts.
He also that is slack in his work
Is brother to him that is a destroyer.
The name of Jehovah is a strong tower;
The righteous runneth into it, and is safe.
The rich man’s wealth is his strong city,
And as a high wall in his own imagination.
Before destruction the heart of man is haughty;
And before honor goeth humility.
STUDY QUESTIONS OVER 18:1-12
What kind of person do you visualize in Proverbs 18:1?
What kind of person do you visualize in Proverbs 18:2?
What does ignominy mean (Proverbs 18:3)?
How are words like deep waters (Proverbs 18:4)?
What is the wellspring of wisdom (Proverbs 18:4)?
What verse in Chapter 17 goes with Proverbs 18:5?
Were these stripes public stripes (Proverbs 18:6)?
Cite personal instances where you know people’s mouths have cost them jobs, marriage, tranquility, etc. (Proverbs 18:7).
Comment on dainty morsels (Proverbs 18:8).
How is a slacker a brother to a destroyer (Proverbs 18:9)?
Comment on tower as used in Proverbs 18:10.
Does the rich man’s strong city and high wall ever
fail him (Proverbs 18:11)?
What other passages in Proverbs teach the same as Proverbs 18:12?
PARAPHRASE OF 18:1-12
The selfish man quarrels against every sound principle of conduct by demanding his own way.
A rebel doesn-’t care about the facts. All he wants to do is yell.
Sin brings disgrace.
A wise man’s words express deep streams of thought.
It is wrong for a judge to favor the wicked and condemn the innocent.
6, 7.
A fool gets into constant fights. His mouth is his undoing! His words endanger him.
What dainty morsels rumors are. They are eaten with great relish!
A lazy man is brother to the saboteur.
The Lord is a strong fortress. The godly run to Him and are safe.
The rich man thinks of his wealth as an impregnable defense, a high wall of safety. What a dreamer!
Pride ends in destruction; humility ends in honor.
COMMENTS ON 18:1-12
Proverbs 18:1. Selfish and self-centered people isolate themselves from others. And a self-centered person is conceited to the point that he goes into a rage against the sound words and advice of others. This is true in the field of religion also: Mark them that are causing the divisions and occasions of stumbling, contrary to the doctrine which ye learned: and turn away from them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Christ, but their own belly (Romans 16:17-18).
Proverbs 18:2. A fool does not like to take in, to learn, but only to talk. Facts, figures, and business have no interest for the foolonly to talk, talk, talk, and he really has nothing to say that is, worth listening to. How often the Bible represents the fool as contented without learning or improving himself!
Proverbs 18:3. Another Hebrew parallelism, paralleling wicked and ignominy (no reputation) and paralleling contempt and reproach. The wicked loses a good name and turns despiser of all that is good and of all who are good. When the wicked cometh, watch out! He injects into the association contempt and reproach, The rule is, those who deserve no honor themselves are sure to dishonor all others, and those who themselves are good are the last to suspicion others of evil.
Proverbs 18:4. The verse is not talking about just any mouth but the mouth of wisdom. A wise man’s mouth is likened to a deep, flowing spring. Such is a great blessing to all around him, and to such they turn for counsel and guidance.
Proverbs 18:5. A court verse, Clarke: We must not, in judicial cases, pay any attention to a man’s riches, influence, friends, offices, etc. but judge the case according to its own merits. Many passages teach the same: Leviticus 19:15; Deuteronomy 1:17; Deuteronomy 16:19; Proverbs 24:23; Proverbs 28:21. A nation’s principles are either maintained or crucified by its judicial officials.
Proverbs 18:6. A fool’s lips show that he is a fool. He says the wrong thing or speaks at the wrong time, or he says what he does in the wrong place or to the wrong person. He is like a child who does not know these wise details of speech. Consequently, he gets himself into trouble with others, and his superiors correct him severely for it.
Proverbs 18:7. This verse continues the topic of Pro 18:6. Similar passages: Proverbs 10:14; Proverbs 12:13; Proverbs 13:3; Ecclesiastes 10:12. Soul means life here, showing the serious destruction that his speech is capable of bringing.
Proverbs 18:8. This saying is carried twice in Proverbs (see Proverbs 26:22 also), probably for a needed emphasis. A whisperer is one who goes behind people’s backs in talking about them, saying things that are not in the best interests of the one being spoken about. The verse brings out the sad fact that people are willing to listen to such cowardly, wrong, ruinous talk (They are as dainty morsels). They are swallowed without question (they go down into the innermost parts of the belly).
Proverbs 18:9. The slacker (one who doesn-’t work) doesn-’t produce, and the destroyer destroys what has been produced. The results are the same: there is nothing to show for one’s time and efforts, Therefore, they are said to be brothers. Some who don-’t take care of what they have, or who are spendthrifts, sometimes look down upon and criticize the person who has no ambition and produces nothing. But this saying relates the two groups.
Proverbs 18:10. Many passages teach that God is a refuge: sometimes a tower, sometimes a rock, sometimes covering wings (2 Samuel 22:3; Psalms 18:2; Psalms 27:1; Psalms 61:3-4; Psalms 91:2 ff; Psalms 144:2). The ancients had their fortified cities with their walls, big gates, and towers. Sometimes the enemy was able to break through the gates and batter down the walls. That left a tower to get up into for their final safety. The Lord is able to take care of us when other helpers fail.
Proverbs 18:11. The first statement is also in Proverbs 10:15. In contrast to the righteous person’s God, the rich man makes wealth that in which he trusts. This is forbidden in 1 Timothy 6:17: Charge them that are rich in this present world, that they be not highminded, nor have their hope set on the uncertainty of riches, but on God. Don-’t overlook the connection of high wall, strong city, and tower in Proverbs 18:10-11.
Proverbs 18:12. While the righteous of Pro 18:10 find their tower (Jehovah) a place of safety, the rich man of Pro 18:11 finds that his false-trust (His wealth) did not save him from destruction. The first statement is similar to Proverbs 16:18; the last to Proverbs 15:33. The present verse actually brings these two contrasting statements found isolated in Proverbs and brings them together in one verse as a contrast, whose truths are witnessed numerous times in the Bible.
TEST QUESTIONS OVER 18:1-12
How does selfishness show up in Proverbs 18:1?
According to Proverbs 18:2 what is and what isn-’t a fool interested in?
When the wicked come, what else comes (Proverbs 18:3)?
Find three words in Proverbs 18:4 that are related in a natural world?
What is the setting of Pro 18:5?
How does the fool’s mouth prove to be his destruction (Proverbs 18:7)?
Why will people play the role of the whisperer (Proverbs 18:8)?
Who besides the whisperer is condemned in Proverbs 18:8?
Prove that a slacker and a destroyer are relatives (Proverbs 18:9).
Find three things in Proverbs 18:10-11 that are related in life.
Compare the strong tower of the righteous with the strong city of the rich (Proverbs 18:10-11).
What fact was brought out about the two statements in Proverbs 18:12?
He that giveth answer before he hearteh,
It is folly and shame unto him.
The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity;
But a broken spirit who can bear?
The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge;
And the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.
A man’s gift maketh room for him,
And bringeth him before great men.
He that pleadeth his cause first seemeth just;
But his neighbor cometh and searcheth him out.
The lot causeth contentions to cease,
And parteth between the might.
A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city;
And such contentions are like the bars of a castle.
A man’s belly shall be filled with the fruit of his mouth;
With the increase of his lips shall he be satisfied.
Death and life are in the power of the tongue;
And they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing,
And obtaineth favor of Jehovah.
The poor useth entreaties;
But the rich answereth roughly.
He that maketh many friends doeth it to his own destruction;
But there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
Proverbs 18:13-24
STUDY QUESTIONS OVER 18:13-24
How is it folly to him (Proverbs 18:13)?
How is it shame to him (Proverbs 18:13)?
What would a doctor get out of Pro 18:14?
Locate the parallels in Proverbs 18:15.
Cite Bible examples of such gifts (Proverbs 18:16).
What lesson should church leaders learn from the first statement (Proverbs 18:17)?
Why did the lot end contentions (Proverbs 18:18)?
What lesson should Christians gain from the first statement in Proverbs 18:19?
Is the first statement in Proverbs 18:20 true whether his words are good or bad?
Give examples of death and life resulting from the tongue (Proverbs 18:21).
How have Catholics misapplied Proverbs 18:22.
When do the poor use entreaties (Proverbs 18:23)?
Why do the rich answer roughly (Proverbs 18:23)?
When might the first statement of Pro 18:24 prove to be true?
What friend of David’s seemed to be closer to him than his brothers (Proverbs 18:24)?
PARAPHRASE OF 18:13-24
What a shameyes, how stupid!to decide before knowing the facts.!
A man’s courage can sustain his broken body, but when courage dies, what hope is left?
The intelligent man is always open to new ideas. In fact, he looks for them.
A bribe does wonders: it will bring you before men of importance!
Any story sounds true until someone tells the other side and sets the record straight.
A coin toss ends arguments and settles disputes between powerful opponents.
It is harder to win back the friendship of an offended brother than to capture a fortified city. His anger shuts you out like iron bars.
Ability to give wise advice satisfied like a good meal!
Those who love to talk will suffer the consequences. Men have died for saying the wrong thing!
The man who finds a wife finds a good thing; she is a blessing to him from the Lord.
The poor man pleads and the rich man answers with insults.
Some people are friends in name only. Others are closer than brothers.
COMMENTS ON 18:13-24
Proverbs 18:13. Pre-judging (judging before the facts are known) gives us our word prejudice. Many misjudgments are made because of pre-judging: replacing investigation with rumor or making a judgment of a person on the sound of his or her name or where one is from (John 1:45-46), one’s looks, or first impressions. Nicodemus said, Doth our law judge a man, except it first hear from himself and know what he doeth? (John 7:51). Jesus said, Judge not according to appearance, but judge righteous judgment (John 7:24).
Proverbs 18:14. One who maintains a cherry, hopeful, bright outlook will rebound from his sickness sooner, but one who has a dark, pessimistic outlook does not recover so well. In fact, when one loses the will to live, he often dies. Pulpit Commentary: The influence of the mind over the body, in a general sense, is here expressed.
Proverbs 18:15. The heart of the prudent desires knowledge, and it uses the ear as a means of acquisition. Or said again, the ear seeks knowledge, and the heart lays it up. It is too bad that we have many people who have no thirst for useful knowledge.
Proverbs 18:16. Pulpit Commentary: The Oriental custom of offering suitable gifts to one in authority, when a favor or an audience is desired, is here alluded to (1 Samuel 10:27; 1 Kings 4:21; 1 Kings 10:25). See also Genesis 32:20; 1 Samuel 25:27. It is also true today that people’s gifts have opened doors to them in various realms.
Proverbs 18:17. Leaders, be careful! The first person to come to you with his side of a story may not be true. See this even in children: Johnny hit me; and while he is speaking, in comes another child of the group and says, And what did you do to Johnny first? You kicked him! An old maxim is so true: One story is good till the other is told.
Proverbs 18:18. The ancients sometimes resorted to this to settle important contentions. Moderns in our land sometimes draw straws and other means to settle minor matters. Pulpit Commentary: If it were not for the decision by lot, persons…would settle their differences by violent means. The apostle used this method in determining who was to succeed Judas (Acts 1:26). There is no doubt but what God directed the pagans-’ lot to fall upon Jonah (Jonah 1:7). See comment on Proverbs 16:33.
Proverbs 18:19. When love is lost, bitterness sets in, and the bitterness is as strong and as intense as the love had previously been. Pulpit Commentary: Bitter are the quarrels of friends; and, Those who love beyond measure also hate beyond measure. Clarke: When brothers fall out, it is with extreme difficulty that they can be reconciled. The verse shows an offended brother is hard to be won, but it does not say it is impossible. Paul and Barnabas had a serious break (Acts 15:36-40), but there is evidence that such was not permanent. Paul refused to take Mark (Acts 15:37-38), which no doubt was an offence to Mark, but later Paul wrote, Take Mark, and bring him with thee; for he is useful to me for ministering (2 Timothy 4:11). Jacob and Esau had a notable falling out (Genesis 27:41-45), but later there was a reconciliation (Genesis 33:8-12). This verse gives a strong reason for being careful of what we say and do that may needlessly offend others. James 1:19 says, Let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.
Proverbs 18:20. This verse likens what a man says to the food he eats. If what he says is good, it is like eating good food: there is no bad after-effect. The verse is speaking of good speech. Proverbs 12:14; Proverbs 13:2 contain similar statements.
Proverbs 18:21. The tongue can edify (build up), or it can destroy the heart or the reputation of another. By our words we can bring either the best or the worst out of a person. As James 3:9 says, Therewith bless we the Lord and Father; and therewith curse we man. The last statement of our verse speaks of good speech and the pleasant results it brings.
Proverbs 18:22. Marriage is God’s plan for the human race (Matthew 19:4-6). His displeasure is against the growing trend in society to by-pass marriage by illicitly living together. A common-law situation is not equal to marriage in God’s sight (John 4:16-18). Other passages that show the divine plan includes marriage: Proverbs 19:14; Proverbs 31:10; Hebrews 13:4. There are at least two abuses of this verse: (1) Jokers quote this in levity as if to prove that a wife is a thing; (2) Catholics have used it as a proof-text that marriage is a sacrament because of the words obtaineth favor of Jehovah. What the verse really means is that when one marries, he is entering into something good and is carrying out God’s will for the human race in that regard. If somebody argues back that many marriages are anything but pleasant and good, it is not God’s fault but the people who have made their marriages that way. If they would follow God’s instructions for marriage (Ephesians 5:22-33), they would find that it is good.
Proverbs 18:23. The poor man who is behind on his loan payments begs for mercy and consideration, and the rich man who loaned him the money and is afraid he is going to lose that money talks roughly to him. The same is true of the delinquent renter and his landlord. The poor man uses entreaties because he knows he is at a disadvantage and is at the mercy of the rich man, and the rich man answers roughly because he can, because he is afraid he is going to lose some money, and sometimes so that he can take undue advantage of the situation,
Proverbs 18:24. In what sense is the first statement true? In the many friends that people make, often there is one or a small handful of them that he would have been better off not to have known: the one or the group that turned against him and ruined him. In the long run they proved not to be true friends and are to be contrasted to the true friend who sticketh closer than a brother, such as Jonathan was to David, Jonathan was closer to David (1 Samuel 18:1-4; 1 Samuel 19:1-7; 1 Samuel 20:17; 1 Samuel 20:41-42; 1 Samuel 23:15-18) than his own brothers were (1 Samuel 17:28).
TEST QUESTIONS OVER CHAPTER 18:13-24
What does our word prejudice mean (Proverbs 18:13)?
Give examples of people who pass judgment before they have the facts (Proverbs 18:13).
What is one of the best things for helping a sick person get better?
What usually happens when a person gives up and loses his will to live (Proverbs 18:14)?
According to Proverbs 18:15 what two parts of a person are involved in his getting knowledge?
Cite examples verifying the truth of Pro 18:16.
Where trouble brews, who is often first to tell his side of it (Proverbs 18:17)?
When have people resorted to using the lot to settle their differences (Proverbs 18:18)?
What happens when love between people dies (Proverbs 18:19)?
Comment upon Proverbs 18:20.
What are two uses of the tongue (Proverbs 18:21)?
How important can what we say prove to be (Proverbs 18:21)?
What is the meaning of Pro 18:22?
Cite an example of a poor man using entreaties and a rich man answering roughly (Proverbs 18:23).
Why does a poor man use entreaties (Proverbs 18:23)?
Why does a rich man answer roughly (Proverbs 18:23)?
What may come out of some of the friendships that a man makes (Proverbs 18:24)?
What friend in the Bible was closer than the man’s own brothers (Proverbs 18:24)?