v. 9. He also that is slothful in his work, who does not apply himself to it with all diligence, is brother to him that is a great waster, a squanderer; the two are closely related, since in either case possessions are lost. read more
γ) Admonition to affability, fidelity in friendship, and the other virtues of social lifeChap. 181 He that separateth himself seeketh his own pleasure;against all counsel doth he rush on.2 A fool hath no delight in understanding,but that his heart may reveal itself.3 When wickedness cometh then cometh contempt,and with shameful deeds reproach.4 Deep waters are the words of man’s mouth;the fountain of wisdom is a flowing brook.5 To have regard to the wicked is not good,(nor)... read more
Verse Proverbs 18:1. 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." Verse Proverbs 18:9. This plainly teaches that there can be no middle course between construction and destruction. Every man is contributing something to the commonwealth, or is a wastrel. Verses Proverbs 18:10-11. Each of these verses taken separately constitutes... read more
Proverbs Of Solomon Part 2 (Proverbs 15:22 to Proverbs 22:16 ). At this point there is a sudden switch from proverbs which contrast one thing with another, which have been predominant since Proverbs 10:1, to proverbs where the second clause adds something to the first. Whilst we still find some contrasting proverbs, especially at the beginning, they are not so common. This may suggest a deliberate intention by Solomon to separate his proverbs into two parts. Furthermore such a change at this... read more
The Fool Destroys Others And Is Therefore Himself Destroyed, But The Righteous Are Kept Safe (Proverbs 18:8-13 ). In this subsection there is an emphasis on the way in which a fool destroys a community. He does it by whispering slander which is eagerly swallowed by others (Proverbs 18:8); by neglecting his land and thus reducing the stock of food available just as effectively as an invader would (Proverbs 18:9); by haughtiness which alienates him from others and leads to his own destruction... read more
Proverbs 18:1 . MT yields no satisfactory sense. The LXX reads “ The man who wishes to separate from his friends seeks pretexts, but is always liable to reproach.” Frankenberg renders “ the alienated friend seeks an occasion (emending the word for ‘ desire’ ), seeks by all means to stir up strife.” Proverbs 18:4 . RV translates correctly, but the sense is strange. Read, perhaps, “ The words of the wise are deep waters, a flowing brook, a fountain of life,” but this is conjecture rather than... read more
They are alike; though they take several paths, yet both come to one end, even to extreme want and poverty. read more
CRITICAL NOTES.—Proverbs 18:9. Waster, or destroyer. MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 18:9TWIN-BROTHERSI. Slothfulness and prodigality have the same origin. As brothers are the children of a common parent, so sloth and waste have their root in the common sin of ungodliness; men are spendthrifts or they are lazy, because they have no right sense of their obligations to God and to man—because they do not look upon their life as a stewardship for which they must give an account (Romans 14:12), but as a... read more
Chapter 18Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeks and intermeddleth with all wisdom. A fool has no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself. When the wicked comes, then comes also contempt, and with ignominy reproach. The words of a man's mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook. It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment. A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth... read more
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George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary - Proverbs 18:9
Brother. Like him, as both end in poverty, chap. x. 4., and xii. 11. read more