Proverbs 18

Notes

Ver. 1. While self-conceited persons seek to distinguish themselves by their high pretences to wisdom, and inconstant ones seek but never find satisfaction, they who have a true desire of knowledge disengage themselves from all avocations, in order to study true wisdom. 2. A vain man studies knowledge or even religion, for no other end but to make a show with it. 3. Wherever wicked men come, they bring their contempt of God and reproaching of religion along with them, which will at last issue in contempt and misery to themselves. 4. A wise man's words, as deep waters, flow calmly, and contain the deep mysteries of God: and his heart, being full of wisdom, is ever sending forth streams of instructive, refreshing, quickening, and fructifying influences to all around him. 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 or partiality. 6, 7. Fools, by meddling in other men's quarrels, or by speeches irritating others against them, procure mischief, and even lasting and eternal ruin to themselves. 8. The slanders and reproaches of tale-bearers, however covered over with pretences of sorrow, and however greedily they be received by the hearers, like mortal and incurable wounds, pierce to and rankle the very heart. 9. Idleness and prodigality are nearly allied, and both issue in the ruin of the persons guilty of them. Negligence about our soul is as fatal as open and avowed ungodliness. 10. Jesus Christ, and all the perfections, promises, and providences of God in him, are an impregnable defence and satisfaction to all such as by faith flee to him: no enemy then can ever hurt them. 11. It is only in his own conceit that the rich man's wealth appears a mean of remarkable safety either here or hereafter. 12. Pride in prosperity, forgetfulness of God, and despising of others, are certain means and forerunners of destruction: and humility, meekness, and patience, in a low condition, are the best preparation for honour and preferment. 13. He who, to show his quick parts, or through a forwardness of temper, answers to a matter before he hears it fully and understands it, shames himself, and manifests his folly. 14. A manly spirit, especially if encouraged and supported by the influences of the Holy Ghost, will bear up under manifold and sore calamities of an external kind: but if the spirit be wounded with melancholy dejection, and a sense of God's wrath, how insupportable is the case, till Jesus, by his blood and grace, give relief! 15. Prudent persons, by diligent meditation, and by attentive listening to instruction, labour to increase more and more in wisdom. 16. There are few men so mean, base, or wicked, but large gifts and presents will procure their release from prison, nay, bring them into favour with great men, or even to the honour of waiting upon princes. 17. They who are first in representing their case, ordinarily make it to appear right, and even prepossess the judge in their favour; but by diligent search into their allegations, their neighbours often find innumerable mistakes in their representations. 18. In some cases, where the parties contending are very powerful to maintain their pretensions, and the reasons strong on both sides, the referring of the determination to God by the lot is the proper method to put each into quiet possession of that which falls to his share. 19. No contentions are so sharp and obstinate as those between near relations and long-continued friends. It is easier to take strong cities, or to bow or break the strongest iron bars, than to make a reconciliation. 20. Great care ought to be taken about our words; for, according as they are wholesome, good, and edifying, or are bad and unsavoury, shall be our temporal or eternal reward for them. 21. Much evil, or much good, necessarily issues from the right or wrong use of our tongues: and as men love and accustom themselves to good or bad discourse, shall be their reward or punishment; nay, ordinarily, they who love to talk much shall suffer by it. 22. To be provided with a pious, prudent, and active wife is a great blessing, and a singular instance of God's favour. 23. Not boldness, but modest entreaties and doleful supplications, become those who are poor and miserable: but rich men are too apt to be so elated with their outward circumstances, as to return haughty and harsh answers. 24. Such as have friends must study to behave towards them in a friendly manner, in doing them all good offices possible: and sometimes friends are found that will be more constant and faithful in helping us in the day of affliction than our nearest relations.

Ver. 1. Through desire of real knowledge, a man having separated himself from secular business, seeks, not some solitary department of study, but expatiates over all subjects, as did Solomon; for by the student of real knowledge, every subject is found to lead to the knowledge and the love of God, and in that all wisdom lies. C.

Ver. 3. When the wicked cometh into notice, office, or power, then cometh, it may be, the adulation of fools and flatterers—but the contempt of wise men, with an ignominious end to his vain pretensions, and the reproach of those he has injured, deceived, or betrayed. C.

Ver. 16. The invariable custom in Asiatic countries in approaching superiors is to present a gift. Here it is to be viewed as the emblem of that name and righteousness with which alone the sinner can find access to the throne of grace. C.