Old Testament Commentary - Proverbs 18

by Don R. Hender

Scriptural Text [& Editorial]	Commentary & Explanation	Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
CHAPTER 18 A fool's mouth is his destruction—Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing—A man that hath friends must show himselft friendly.
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 ^awaters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook. 5 It is not good to accept the ^aperson of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment. 6 A fool's lips enter into ^acontention, and his mouth calleth for strokes.		4^a Prov. 20:5 5^a Ps. 82:2 6^a TG Contention
7 A fool's ^amouth is his ^bdestruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul. 8 The *words of a ^atalebearer are* as wounds^a**, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly. 9 He also that is ^aslothful in his work is brother to him that is a great ^bwaster.	*8^a words of a talebearer are* as wounds** Since a talebearer tells in propagating the secrets of one's past, that which ought to be past and forgotten as well as forgiven is often brought to the forefront to the wounding of the person again by such tales of the past which ought not to be held against a person. A talebearer is one who loves to look for the 'dirt' concerning a person and proliferating it continually to the thoughtless hurt and most frequently to the wronging of the person whose positive characterists and life style run beyond such petty 'tales' of the talebearer.	7^a Prov. 10:14 ^b Ps. 64:8 8^a OR slanderer; TG Gossip TG Honesty 9^a TG Laziness ^b TG Waste
10 The name of the LORD is a strong ^atower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe. 11 The ^arich man's ^bwealth is his strong city, and as an high wall in his own conceit. 12 Before destruction the heart of man is ^ahaughty, and before honour is ^bhumility.		10^a 2 Sam. 22:3; Ps. 61:3 11^a Ps. 19:24 (19-24) ^b Prov. 10:15 12^a Prov. 29:23 ^b Alma 7:23-24; D&C 112:10
13 He that ^aanswereth 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 ^aprudent getteth ^bknowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.		13^a TG Rashness 13^a TG Prudence ^b TG Knowledge
16 A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men. 17 He that is ^afirst in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him. 18 The ^alot causeth contentions to cease, and parteth between the mighty.		17^a Mark 9:35 18^a Prov. 16:33
19 A ^abrother ^boffended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their ^ccontentions 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 ^atongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.		19^a TG Brotherhood and Sisterhood ^b TG Offenses ^c TG Contention 21^a Matt. 12:37 (34-37); Alma 12:14
22 ^aWhoso findeth a ^bwife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD. 23 The ^apoor useth ^bintreaties; but the rich answereth roughly. 24 A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a ^afriend that sticketh closer than a ^bbrother.		22^a JST Prov. 18:22 Whoso findeth obtained favor of the Lord. ^b TG Marriage, Wives 23^a Prov. 19:7 ^b Alma 32:5 (1-5) 24^a Prov. 27:10; TG Friendship ^b TG Brotherhood and Sisterhood