Proverbs 18:15

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.

The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge,.... More knowledge; for he must have some, and a considerable share, to be denominated "prudent", whether in things natural, civil, or spiritual: and such will be heartily desirous of more, and make use of all means to attain it, by which they do come at a large share of it; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge; a wise man seeks to get it by hearing; he listens to what others say, and especially such that are wiser and more knowing than himself: so such as are wise to salvation, as they desire to know more of Christ and of divine things, and make use of all means for that purpose; among the rest, hearken to what Christians, of a superior class to themselves, drop in private conversation; and particularly they constantly attend to the ministry of the word; and thus seeking it, they find an increase of it.

Verse 15. - The first clause is similar to Proverbs 15:14 ; the second gives a kind of explanation of the former - the understanding of the wise man is always expanding and increasing its stores, because his ear is open to instruction, and his ability grows by wholesome exercise (comp. Proverbs 1:5 ). Daath , "knowledge," which is used in both clauses, the LXX. translates by two words, αἴσθησιν and ἔννοιαν . Proverbs 18:15

15 The heart of a man of understanding gaineth knowledge, And the ear of the wise seeketh after knowledge. נבון may be also interpreted as an adj., but we translate it here as at Proverbs 14:33, because thus it corresponds with the parallelism; cf. לב צדּיק, Proverbs 15:28, and לב חכם, Proverbs 16:23, where the adject. interpretation is excluded. The gaining of wisdom is, after Proverbs 17:16, referred to the heart: a heart vigorous in embracing and receiving it is above all necessary, and just such an one possesses the נבון, which knows how to value the worth and usefulness of such knowledge. The wise, who are already in possession of such knowledge, are yet at the same time constantly striving to increase this knowledge: their ear seeks knowledge, eagerly asking where it is to be found, and attentively listening when the opportunity is given of מצא, obtaining it.

[Bible] Proverbs Chapter 18 18:1. He that hath a mind to depart from a friend, seeketh occasions: he shall ever be subject to reproach. 18:2. A fool receiveth not the words of prudence: unless thou say those things which are in his heart. 18:3. The wicked man, when he is come into the depths of sins, contemneth: but ignominy and reproach follow him. 18:4. Words from the mouth of a man are as deep water: and the fountain of wisdom is an overflowing stream. 18:5. It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to decline from the truth of judgment. 18:6. The lips of a fool intermeddle with strife: and his mouth provoketh quarrels. 18:7. The mouth of a fool is his destruction: and his lips are the ruin of his soul. 18:8. The words of the double tongued are as if they were harmless: and they reach even to the inner parts of the bowels. Fear casteth down the slothful: and the souls of the effeminate shall be hungry. 18:9. He that is loose and slack in his work, is the brother of him that wasteth his own works. 18:10. The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the just runneth to it, and shall be exalted. 18:11. The substance of the rich man is the city of his strength, and as a strong wall compassing him about. 18:12. Before destruction, the heart of a man is exalted: and before he be glorified, it is humbled. 18:13. He that answereth before he heareth, sheweth himself to be a fool, and worthy of confusion. 18:14. The spirit of a man upholdeth his infirmity: but a spirit that is easily angered, who can bear? 18:15. A wise heart shall acquire knowledge: and the ear of the wise seeketh instruction. 18:16. A man's gift enlargeth his way, and maketh him room before princes. 18:17. The just is first accuser of himself: his friend cometh, and shall search him. 18:18. The lot suppresseth contentions, and determineth even between the mighty. 18:19. A brother that is helped by his brother, is like a strong city: and judgments are like the bars of cities.

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.

[Reformed Biblical] unto counsel is wise. The fool's conceit hinders his wisdom. (Job, xi. 12.) 1 discou- raging case! (Chap. xxvi. 12.) His way is right in his own eyes. (Chap. xvi. 2.) He needs no direction, asks no counsel, is stubborn in his own way, because it is his own (Judg. ii. 19), and follows it to his own ruin. His chief danger is his security. (Deut. xxix. 19.) There may be no flagrant sin, nothing that degrades him below the level of his respect- able neighbour. He has no doubt of heaven. Instead of the way being so narrow, that few find it (Matt. vii. 14); in his view it is so easy of access, that few miss it. Thus all his religion is self-delusion. (Chap. xiv. 12.) 0 my God! save me from myself--from my own self-deceitfulness. What a proof of wisdom is a teachable spirit! What an excellent means of increasing it! (Chap. i. 5.) Was not Moses wiser for heark- ening to Jethro's counsel (Exod. xviii. 14-24); and David for listening to the restraining advice of Abigail? (1 Sam. xxv. 23-32.) How precious then to the child of God is the office of the Divine Counsellor! (Isa. ix. 6.) How wise the reverential faith, that hearkens to his counsel! Whom does he ever disappoint? Whom does he "upbraid?" (Jam. i. 5.) 16. A fool's wrath is presently (in that day, marg.) known: but a prudent man covereth shame. Let the tongue be ever under discipline. An unbridled tongue is the proof of an unrenewed heart. (Ib. ver. 26; iii.2.) But specially never let it be loose in a moment of wrath. How readily is the fool known by his wrath! He has no command of himself