PROVERBS 18 (KING JAMES VERSION)

PROVERBS 18   (KJV)

   1) Through desire a man, having separated himself,
     seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom.

   2) A fool hath no delight in understanding,
     but that his heart may discover itself.

   3) When the wicked cometh, then cometh also contempt,
     and with ignominy reproach.

   4) The words of a man's mouth are as deep waters,
     and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook.

   5) It is not good to accept the person of the wicked,
     to overthrow the righteous in judgment.

   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 soul.

   8) The words of a talebearer are as wounds,
     and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

   9) He also that is slothful in his work
     is brother to him that is a great waster.

   10) The name of the LORD is a strong tower:
     the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.  

   11) The rich man's wealth is his strong city,
     and as an high wall in his own conceit.

   12) Before destruction the heart of man is haughty,
     and before honour is humility.

   13) He that answereth a matter before he heareth it,
     it is folly and shame unto him.

   14) The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity;
     but a wounded spirit who can bear?

   15) The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge;
     and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.

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

   17) He that is first in his own cause seemeth just;
     but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him.

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

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

   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.

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

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

  23)  The poor useth intreaties;
     but the rich answereth roughly.

   24) A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly:
     and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

DEFINITIONS

   The definition of the word "ignominy" as defined by Merriam-Webster:  deep personal humiliation and disgrace;  disgraceful or dishonorable conduct, quality, or action

   "Intreaties" is like a supplication or prayer.

   Definition of officious:  assertive of authority in an annoyingly domineering way.

   The definition of the word "haughty" as defined by dictionary.reference.com:  disdainfully proud; scornfully arrogant

COMMENTARY

   This chapter deals with character building.    

  
   1) Verse 1 has been translated in a variety of ways:  Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeks and meddles with all wisdom.

    The closest that I can come to commenting on this is the explanation from the Enduring Word Bible Commentary:  Who doesn't desire to live far from others?  We reach a point in our lives where we don't care to deal with people any more.  However, we were created to be social creatures.  Our wisdom might help others.  Likewise, someone might be able to unlock something we have been seeking to understand.  

   Here is a quote from their site:  "The protest of this proverb is against the self-satisfaction which makes a man separate himself from the thoughts and opinions of others.  Such a one finally 'rages against,' or 'quarrels with all sound wisdom.'" (Morgan)
 

   2)  The word "discover" here, should be translated "vent".  Don't we all know this guy?  He just wants to sound off; blurt out his opinion, vent his anger, rather than holding his tongue and seeking wisdom.  It is bad enough when you and I act in this manner, but it is exponentially worse when someone who is in the public eye or the media acts this way.

   I remember many times our President jumped out in front of a news story and gave his spin on events before facts were revealed to the public.

   3)  another way to say "and with ignominy, reproach"  is "and with deep personal humiliation and disgrace comes shame."

   Verse 8:  A gossiper will find a willing listener.  This guy finds someone who has issues with another and talks bad about them (whether true or not) and the listener eats it up because he doesn't like the one being talked about.  The gossip goes down into the belly of the listener then comes back out of his mouth.  "What comes out of the mouth comes from the heart."  God does not look favorably at gossipers.

   Verse 14:  We live in a fallen world and are subject to infirmity and calamity.  That said, The Spirit of God is witnessing to and working with our spirit when we are attacked by powers and principalities of this world.  "Greater is He Who is in me than he who is in the world."  Even those who are not Christians fare better with a clear conscious and mind when infirmity befalls them.   But when the spirit is wounded, when there is despair and fear, the shoulders fail and cannot carry the weight of it.

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