Proverbs 18 - ESV - Bible Reading / Study Notes

Proverbs 18

18:1   Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire;
    he breaks out against all sound judgment.
2   A fool takes no pleasure in understanding,
    but only in expressing his opinion.
3   When wickedness comes, contempt comes also,
    and with dishonor comes disgrace.
4   The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters;
    the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.
5   It is not good to be partial to¹ the wicked
    or to deprive the righteous of justice.
6   A fool’s lips walk into a fight,
    and his mouth invites a beating.
7   A fool’s mouth is his ruin,
    and his lips are a snare to his soul.
8   The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels;
    they go down into the inner parts of the body.
9   Whoever is slack in his work
    is a brother to him who destroys.
10   The name of the LORD is a strong tower;
    the righteous man runs into it and is safe.
11   A rich man’s wealth is his strong city,
    and like a high wall in his imagination.
12   Before destruction a man’s heart is haughty,
    but humility comes before honor.
13   If one gives an answer before he hears,
    it is his folly and shame.
14   A man’s spirit will endure sickness,
    but a crushed spirit who can bear?
15   An intelligent heart acquires knowledge,
    and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
16   A man’s gift makes room for him
    and brings him before the great.
17   The one who states his case first seems right,
    until the other comes and examines him.
18   The lot puts an end to quarrels
    and decides between powerful contenders.
19   A brother offended is more unyielding than a strong city,
    and quarreling is like the bars of a castle.
20   From the fruit of a man’s mouth his stomach is satisfied;
    he is satisfied by the yield of his lips.
21   Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
    and those who love it will eat its fruits.
22   He who finds a wife finds a good thing
    and obtains favor from the LORD.
23   The poor use entreaties,
    but the rich answer roughly.
24   A man of many companions may come to ruin,
    but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Footnotes

[1] 18:5 Hebrew to lift the face of

Commentary

v1: We see that many, even Christians, insist on doing what they like, isolating themselves, even whilst being in fellowship. There remains little real commitment to the Lord, and little faithfulness to God's people. Any "sound judgment," with respect to doctrine, lifestyle, worship, church attendance, is rejected.

v2: The fool wants to be exalted, to be seen as important; he wants his views to be respected. At the same time, he rejects the wisdom from God which others bring to him.

v3: Wickedness and shame are not without effect, as they bring contempt and disgrace into our lives.

v4: The deep waters of a man's words, but a wise man, like a bubbling brook, makes wisdom known.

v5: Injustice is a bad thing, whether to the wicked or to the innocent.

v6-8: Ungodly lips, the door of the heart. David Devenish comments that gossip is 'a common rejection response' (Demolishing Strongholds) 'The person suffering rejection will become involved in gossip as a way of feeling acceped by the person they are talking to ...'

v9: The idle man is like the destroyer.

v10-12: The righteous man trusts in the Lord, the rich man trusts in his wealth, but this leads to destruction, as the wall of wealth is not secure.

v13: Just as there is folly in rejecting sound judgment, so there is also folly in answering before listening to what is being said or asked.

v14: Sickness is not a pleasant thing, but a man is sustained through it through his strength of spirit or soul. More severe is a crushed spirit.

v15: The wise man seeks out understanding, and constantly grows in wisdom.

v16: A generous heart will gain access to influence. We see that this can be abused with bribery.

v17: Test what we hear; if we only hear one opinion, we are inclined to believe it. We must see that view challenged. Our reaction then, as those who are righteous, is to study how to answer.

v18: The end of disputes, see 2 Sam 20.18.

v19: Disputes and offences can cause great harm, and leave another hurt and unyielding.

v20: A godly mouth brings sustenance and blessing.

v21: In the N.T., James also speaks of the tongue's power for good and evil (Jam 3.1-12). The writer here explains that we reap what we sow with the tongue.

v22: A wife is a gift from God, and is therefore a good thing.

v23: The rich man, like Nabal, answers roughly, unwilling to share his wealth.

v24: Have friends, and be friendly, pointing us to Christ, the closest of all friends.