Chapter Overview
Summary
Proverbs 18 continues the Solomonic-proverbs with strong tongue / speech-ethics focus. Verse 10 — 'the name of the LORD is a strong tower' — is one of the Psalter-Proverbs' most-cited divine-refuge images. Verse 24's 'a friend who sticks closer than a brother' supplies classical-friendship-theology.
Notable Variants
18:10 'name of the LORD is a strong tower' — divine-name-refuge; 18:21 'death and life are in the power of the tongue' speech-ethics capstone; 18:24 'a friend closer than a brother' Christological-friendship foundation.
Structural Notes
MT Prov 18 = LXX Prov 18. 24 verses.
The one who isolates himself pursues his own desire; he lashes out against all sound judgment.
'Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment' tracks MT.
A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in displaying his own opinions.
'A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion' tracks MT.
When wickedness arrives, contempt comes with it, and with dishonor comes disgrace.
'When wickedness comes, contempt comes also, and with dishonor comes disgrace' tracks MT.
The words of a person's mouth are deep waters; the fountain of wisdom is a flowing stream.
'The words of a man's mouth are deep waters; the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook' tracks MT.
Showing partiality to the wicked is not right, nor is depriving the righteous of justice.
'It is not good to be partial to the wicked or to deprive the righteous of justice' tracks MT.
A fool's lips walk into a fight, and his mouth calls for a beating.
'A fool's lips walk into a fight, and his mouth invites a beating' tracks MT.
A fool's mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a trap for his own life.
'A fool's mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to his soul' tracks MT.
The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down into the innermost parts.
'The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body' tracks MT. GOSSIP-AS-DELICIOUS-MORSELS — the psychology-of-sinful-speech consumption.
Whoever is careless in his work is a brother to the one who destroys.
'Whoever is slack in his work is a brother to him who destroys' tracks MT.
The LORD's name is a fortified tower; the righteous runs into it and is safe.
'The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe' tracks MT. NAME-OF-LORD STRONG-TOWER. Philippians 2:9–11 ('the name that is above every name') extends Christologically: the name Jesus is the strong-tower. Acts 4:12 ('there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved').
The wealth of the rich is his fortified city, and like a high wall — in his imagination.
'A rich man's wealth is his strong city, and like a high wall in his imagination' tracks MT. WEALTH-AS-IMAGINARY-TOWER — contrasts v. 10's real-tower of divine-name.
Before destruction a person's heart is proud, and before honor comes humility.
'Before destruction a man's heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor' tracks MT. // Prov 15:33, 16:18.
Whoever answers before listening — that is his foolishness and his disgrace.
'If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame' tracks MT. LISTEN-BEFORE-ANSWER wisdom. James 1:19 ('quick to hear, slow to speak') extends.
A person's spirit can endure his illness, but a crushed spirit — who can bear it?
'A man's spirit will endure sickness, but a crushed spirit who can bear?' tracks MT. CRUSHED-SPIRIT — depression-acknowledgment.
The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
'An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge' tracks MT.
A person's gift makes room for him and brings him into the presence of the powerful.
'A man's gift makes room for him and brings him before the great' tracks MT.
The first to state his case seems right until his neighbor comes and cross-examines him.
'The one who states his case first seems right, until the other comes and examines him' tracks MT. HEAR-BOTH-SIDES judicial-wisdom.
Casting lots settles disputes and separates powerful opponents.
'The lot puts an end to quarrels and decides between powerful contenders' tracks MT.
A brother who has been wronged is harder to reach than a fortified city, and quarrels between them are like the bars of a fortress.
'A brother offended is more unyielding than a strong city, and quarreling is like the bars of a castle' tracks MT.
From the fruit of his mouth a person's stomach is filled; by the harvest of his lips he is satisfied.
'From the fruit of a man's mouth his stomach is satisfied; he is satisfied by the yield of his lips' tracks MT. FRUIT-OF-MOUTH consumes-self.
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
'Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits' tracks MT. DEATH-AND-LIFE-IN-THE-TONGUE. The tongue-theology capstone. James 3:6 ('the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness'), 3:9–10 extend.
Whoever finds a wife finds a good thing and receives favor from the LORD.
'He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the LORD' tracks MT. FIND-A-WIFE-FIND-GOOD. Marriage-blessing-axiom. Proverbs 19:14 ('a prudent wife is from the LORD') parallels.
The poor person speaks with pleas, but the rich person answers harshly.
'The poor use entreaties, but the rich answer roughly' tracks MT.
A person with many companions may be ruined, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
'A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother' tracks MT. FRIEND-CLOSER-THAN-BROTHER — the highest friendship-category. Christologically read as Christ's-friendship (John 15:13–15): 'I have called you friends.' The friend-closer-than-brother = Christ the true-brother.