Prov 18.1-24 is a summary of twenty-four sayings about various topics.
v 1…He who separates himself (to find himself) seeks his own desire (is selfish), he quarrels against all sound wisdom (he goes against God’s plan for being involved with others).
v 2…A fool does not delight in understanding (they are not made that way), but only in revealing his own mind (Hebrew “lev” or “heart”- he is focused on himself, not learning).
v 3…When a wicked man comes, contempt comes also (he looks down on others), and with dishonor comes reproach (he treats others with disdain).
v 4…The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters (they reveal the depths of his heart and hard to exhaust or lessen), the fountain (source) of wisdom is a bubbling brook (life giving wisdom keeps flowing).
v 5…To show partiality to the wicked is not good (to favor them, especially in court cases), nor to thrust aside the righteous in judgment (the righteous loses a case because the judge is partial).
v 6…A fool’s lips enter into strife (contention), and his mouth calls for blows (provokes the punishment that comes).
v 7…A fool’s mouth is his ruin (works towards his destruction), and his lips are a snare of his soul (it causes him trouble).
v 8…The words of a talebearer (gossip, whisperer) are like dainty morsels (hard to resist), and they go down into the innermost parts (chamber of the belly) of the body (of those who listen).
v 9…He also who is slack in his work is brother to him who destroys (both are squanderers).
v 10…The name of Yehovah is a strong tower (migdal oz); the righteous runs into it and is safe (David stood against Goliath in the name of Yehovah and got the rock that killed him from a brook that flowed down to that valley from Migdal Oz. Also, On September 11, 2001, as terrorists were destroying the twin towers of men, they proclaimed the name of their god. At that same moment in Israel, the true pronunciation of God’s name Yehovah was being revealed in a Hebrew manuscript. Survivors around ground zero raced to find shelter and ran into a nearby church for safety, and God’s name Yehovah was written inside the church in several places).
v 11…A rich man’s wealth is his strong city, and like a high wall in his own imagination (unlike the righteous in verse 10, the rich see their wealth as safe and secure, but that is only in their own mind).
v 12…Before destruction the heart of man is haughty (it leads the way to ruin) , but humility goes before honor (it leads the way to distinction).
v 13…He who gives an answer before he hears (the full story without thinking), it is folly and shame to him (a misguided opinion usually follows).
v 14…The spirit of man will sustain him in sickness (give them strength), but a broken spirit (Hebrew “lev” or “heart”) who can bear (harder to keep going on the inside).
v 15…The mind (Hebrew “lev” or heart-here we have lev or heart translated as “spirit” and “mind” in v 14 and 15 and that is because these terms are synonymous in Hebrew thought. For more information on this concept see our teaching called “Heart, Mind, Soul and Spirit in Hebrew Thought” on this website) of the prudent acquires knowledge (Hebrew “da’at” or the knowledge of God on Torah facts), and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge (da’at).
v 16…A man’s gift makes room for him (Hebrew “matan” or gift, generosity can bring favor), and brings him before great men (Gen 43.11; 1 Sam 9.7).
v 17…The first to plead his case seems just (or right), until another comes and cross examines him (bringing out the other side of the story).
18…The lot puts an end to contentions, and decides between the mighty (because Yehovah directed the result-Josh 7.1-26; Acts 1.26).
v 19…A brother offended (or any family member) is harder to be won (back again) than a strong city, and contentions are like the bars of a castle (strong obstructions).
v 20…With the fruit (speech) of a man’s mouth his stomach will be satisfied (will be profitable to him), he will be satisfied with the product of his lips (this repeats the same idea in what is called a Hebrew parallelism).
v 21…Death and life are in the power of the tongue (by witnesses according to their testimony, by judges depending on what sentence they pass, of teachers depending on their doctrine and can be used for good or evil by all men), and those who love it (to be talkative and use the tongue) will eat its fruit (whether good or evil).
v 22…He who finds a wife (a good one) finds a good thing (for the husband), and obtains favor from Yehovah-Gen 2.18).
v 23…The poor man utters supplications (for favor and justice in his impoverished situation), but the rich man answers roughly (to his perceived inferiors because he doesn’t need them).
v 24…A man of many friends may be broken, but there is a friend (Hebrew “ahav” of love) who sticks closer than a brother (not just as flesh and blood, but as his own soul and heart).
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