JFB : Proverbs 18

      @Pr 18:1-24.

      1. Through desire . . . seeketh--that is, seeks selfish gratification.
      intermeddleth . . . wisdom--or, "rushes on" (@Pr 17:14) against all wisdom, or what is valuable (@Pr 2:7).

      2. that his heart . . . itself--that is, takes pleasure in revealing his folly (@Pr 12:23 15:2).

      3. So surely are sin and punishment connected (@Pr 16:4).
      wicked, for "wickedness," answers to
      ignominy, or the state of such; and
      contempt, the feeling of others to them; and to
      reproach, a manifestation of contempt.

      4. Wise speech is like an exhaustless stream of benefit.

      5. accept the person--(Compare @Ps 82:2). "It is not good" is to be supplied before "to overthrow."

      6, 7. The quarrelsome bring trouble on themselves. Their rash language ensnares them (@Pr 6:2).

      8. (Compare @Pr 16:28).
      as wounds--not sustained by the Hebrew; better, as "sweet morsels," which men gladly swallow.
      innermost . . . belly--the mind, or heart (compare @Pr 20:27-30 Ps 22:14).

      9. One by failing to get, the other by wasting wealth, grows poor.
      waster--literally, "master of washing," a prodigal.

      10. name of the Lord--manifested perfections (@Ps 8:1 20:2), as faithfulness, power, mercy, &c., on which men rely.
      is safe--literally, "set on high, out of danger" (@Ps 18:2 91:4).

      11. contrasts with @Pr 18:10 (compare @Pr 10:15). Such is a vain trust (compare @Ps 73:6).

      12. (Compare @Pr 15:33 16:18).

      13. Hasty speech evinces self-conceit, and ensures shame (@Pr 26:12).

      14. infirmity--bodily sickness, or outward evil. The spirit, which sustains, being wounded, no support is left, except, as implied, in God.

      15. (Compare @Pr 1:5,15,31).

      16. (Compare @Pr 17:8,23). Disapproval of the fact stated is implied.

      17. One-sided statements are not reliable.
      searcheth--thoroughly (@Pr 17:9,19).

      18. The lot--whose disposal is of God (@Pr 16:13), may, properly used, be a right mode of settling disputes.

      19. No feuds so difficult of adjustment as those of relatives; hence great care should be used to avoid them.

      20. (Compare @Pr 12:14 13:2). Men's words are the fruit, or, increase of his lips, and when good, benefit them.
      satisfied with--(Compare @Pr 1:31 14:14).

      21. Death and life--or, the greatest evil and good.
      that love it--that is, the tongue, or its use for good or evil.
      eat . . . fruit--(Compare @Pr 18:19 Jas 1:19).

      22. The old versions supply "good" before the "wife," as the last clause and @Pr 19:14 imply (compare @Pr 31:10).

      23. the rich . . . roughly--He is tolerated because rich, implying that the estimate of men by wealth is wrong.

      24. A man . . . friendly--better, "A man . . . (is) to, or, may triumph (@Ps 108:9), or, shout for joy (@Ps 5:11), that is, may congratulate himself." Indeed, there is a Friend who is better than a brother; such is the "Friend of sinners" [@Mt 11:19 Lu 7:34], who may have been before the writer's mind.