Proverbs 18:12

18:4. The well-spring of wisdom in the heart of a believer, continually supplies words of wisdom. 5. The merits of a cause must be looked to, not the person. 6,7. What mischief bad men do to themselves by their ungoverned tongues! 8. How base are those that sow contention! and what fatal effects may be expected from small beginnings of jealousy! 9. Omissions of duty, and in duty, are fatal to the soul, as well as commissions of sin. 10,11. The Divine power, made known in and through our Lord Jesus Christ, forms a strong tower for the believer, who relies on the Lord. How deceitful the defence of the rich man, who has his portion and treasure in this world! It is a strong city and a high wall only in his own conceit; for it will fail when most in need. They will be exposed to the just wrath of that Judge whom they despised as a Saviour. 12. After the heart has been lifted up with pride, a fall comes. But honour shall be the reward of humility. 13. Eagerness, with self-conceit, will expose to shame. 14. Firmness of mind supports under many pains and trials. But when the conscience is tortured with remorse, no human fortitude can bear the misery; what then will hell be? 15. We must get knowledge, not only into our heads, but into our hearts. 16. Blessed be the Lord, who makes us welcome to come to his throne, without money and without price. May his gifts make room for him in our souls.

Before destruction the heart of man is haughty,.... Lifted up with his riches. Rich men are apt to be highminded, and therefore are to be charged and cautioned against it; they are apt to look above their poor neighbours, and with contempt upon them; and very often this haughtiness of theirs is a presage of their ruin and destruction: and those haughty airs are put on from the pride of their hearts, when a "breach" is near, as the word (u) signifies, or when they are ready to break; however, their haughty spirits are, sooner or later, humbled by one distressing providence or another; see Proverbs 16:18 ; and before honour is humility; See Gill on Proverbs 15:33. (u) "ante confractionem", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Cocceius, Schultens.

We place together Proverbs 18:12-19 , in which the figure of a secure fortress returns: Proverbs 18:12 This proverb is connected with the preceding of the rich man who trusts in his mammon. Before destruction the heat of man is haughty; And humility goeth before honour. Line first is a variation of Proverbs 16:18, and line second is similar to Proverbs 15:33.

mind —or, "spirit," for anger or any ill passion which the righteous restrain. 12. His servants imitate him. 13. (Compare Proverbs 22:2). deceitful man —literally, "man of vexations," an exactor. the Lord … their eyes —sustains their lives (1 Samuel 14:27; Psalms 13:3); that is, both depend on Him, and He will do justice. 14. (Compare Proverbs 20:28; 25:5). Such is the character of the King of kings (Psalms 72:4, 12). 15. (Compare Proverbs 13:24; 23:13). 16. (Compare Proverbs 29:2, 12; Psalms 12:1-8). shall see … fall —and triumph in it (Psalms 37:34-38; 58:10, 11). 17. (Compare Proverbs 29:3, 15; Proverbs 19:18). give thee rest —peace and quiet (compare Proverbs 29:9). 18. no vision —instruction in God's truth, which was by prophets, through visions (1 Samuel 3:1). people perish —(Compare Margin ), are deprived of moral restraints. keepeth the law —has, and observes, instruction (Proverbs 14:11, 34; Psalms 19:11). 19. A servant —who lacks good principle. corrected —or discovered. will not answer —that is, will not obey. 20. (Compare Proverbs 21:5). ## hasty in … words? —implying self-conceit (Proverbs 26:12). 21. become his son —assume the place and privileges of one. 22. (Compare Proverbs 15:18). Such are delighted by discord and violence. 23. (Compare Proverbs 16:18; 18:12). honour … spirit —or, "such shall lay hold on honor" (Proverbs 11:16). 24. hateth … soul —(Compare Proverbs 8:36). heareth cursing —(Leviticus 5:1), risks the punishment, rather than reveal truth. 25.

in case of the greatest dangers. ## The righteous; which limitation he adds to beat down the vain confidences of those men, who though they live in a gross neglect and contempt of God, will expect salvation from him. Proverbs 18:11 He trusts to his wealth, as that which will either enable him to resist his enemy, or at least purchase his favour. ## Proverbs 18:12 Before destruction the heart of man is haughty; pride is a cause and presage of ruin, as is noted, Pro_16:18. Is ; or, goeth . This clause we had Pro_15:33. ## Proverbs 18:13 Before he heareth it; before he hath fully heard and considered what another is speaking about it. ## It is folly and shame; it is a shameful folly, though he seek the reputation of a wise man by it, as if he could readily and thoroughly understand all that another cart say before he hath uttered it. ## Proverbs 18:14 The spirit, i.e. the soul, to wit, which is unwounded, as appears by the opposite branch of the verse; which is vigorous and cheerful, supported by the sense of God’s love, and the conscience of its own integrity, and the prospect of its present peace and future happiness. ## Will sustain his infirmity; will easily support him under any bodily or outward troubles, as God’s people have oft found by experience. ## Wounded; dejected with the sense of its own guilt and misery. ## Who can bear? it is most grievous and intolerable without Divine assistance.

PROVERBS 18: 12 Before destruction the heart of man is proud, but before honour is humility. Verse 12 Before destruction - See on Proverbs 11:2 (note); Proverbs 16:18 (note). PROVERBS 18: 13 He who gives answer before he hears, that is folly and shame to him. Verse 13 He that answereth a matter - This is a common case; before a man can tell out his story, another will begin his. Before a man has made his response, the other wishes to confute piecemeal, though he has had his own speech already. This is foolishness to them. They are ill-bred. There are many also that give judgment before they hear the whole of the cause, and express an opinion before they hear the state of the case. How absurd, stupid, and foolish! PROVERBS 18: 14 A man’s spirit will sustain him in sickness, but a crushed spirit, who can bear? Verse 14 The spirit of a man will sustain - A man sustains the ills of his body, and the trials of life, by the strength and energy of his mind. But if the mind be scoundrel, if this be cast down, if slowconsuming care and grief have shot the dagger into the soul, what can then sustain the man? Nothing but the unseen God. Therefore, let the afflicted pray. A man's own spirit has, in general, sufficient fortitude to bear up under the unavoidable trials of life; but when the conscience is wounded by sin, and the soul is dying by iniquity, who can lift him up? God alone; for salvation is of the Lord. PROVERBS 18: 15 The heart of the discerning gets knowledge.