Proverbs 18:1-24 NIV
1An unfriendly person pursues selfish ends
and
against all sound judgment starts quarrels.
2Fools find no pleasure in understanding
but
delight in airing their own opinions.
3When wickedness comes, so does contempt,
and
with shame comes reproach.
4The words of the mouth are deep waters,
but the
fountain of wisdom is a rushing stream.
5It is not good to be partial to the wicked
and so
deprive the innocent of justice.
6The lips of fools bring them strife,
and
their mouths invite a beating.
7The mouths of fools are their undoing,
and
their lips are a snare to their very lives.
8The words of a gossip are like choice morsels;
they go
down to the inmost parts.
9One who is slack in his work
is
brother to one who destroys.
the
righteous run to it and are safe.
they
imagine it a wall too high to scale.
12Before a downfall the heart is haughty,
but
humility comes before honor.
13To answer before listening—
that is
folly and shame.
14The human spirit can endure in sickness,
but a
crushed spirit who can bear?
15The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge,
for the
ears of the wise seek it out.
16A gift opens the way
and
ushers the giver into the presence of the great.
17In a lawsuit the first to speak seems right,
until
someone comes forward and cross-examines.
18Casting the lot settles disputes
and
keeps strong opponents apart.
19A brother wronged is more unyielding than a fortified city;
disputes
are like the barred gates of a citadel.
20From the fruit of their mouth a person’s stomach is filled;
with
the harvest of their lips they are satisfied.
21The tongue has the power of life and death,
and
those who love it will eat its fruit.
22He who finds a wife finds what is good
and
receives favor from The Lord.
23The poor plead for mercy,
but the
rich answer harshly.
24One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin,
but there
is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Verse 10
The Name of Jehovah Is a Fortified Tower; the righteous run to it and are
safe
By "The
Name of The Lord" may be meant, either the attributes and perfections of GOD, by which HE Is Made Known,
and which are the strength and security of His people; His Goodness, Grace, and
Mercy, are their defense; His Favor Encompasses them about, as a shield; His Justice
protects them from all injuries and insults; His Truth and Faithfulness preserve
them; they are kept by His Power, as in a garrison; and His Unchangeableness is
a reason why they are not consumed.
Or else The
Lord Himself; His Name is put for Himself, Psalm 20:1; and may be well
interpreted of The MESSIAH, in
and by Whom GOD Is Manifested to men as The GOD of Grace; in Whom HE Proclaims
His Name, a GOD Gracious and Merciful; Whose Name Is in Him, and Who has the same
nature and perfections with Him;
His Name is JEHOVAH, our Righteousness; Immanuel, GOD With us; the Mighty GOD, and Prince of peace; and Who Is Called JESUS, because HE Saves His people from their sins, and so is their security from eternal destruction.
His Name is JEHOVAH, our Righteousness; Immanuel, GOD With us; the Mighty GOD, and Prince of peace; and Who Is Called JESUS, because HE Saves His people from their sins, and so is their security from eternal destruction.
What a strong tower is to them that are within
it, against an enemy outside, that is the Power, Strength, and Might of CHRIST
to His people; as a Divine Person, HE Is Strong and Mighty, the Most Mighty,
the ALMIGHTY; as man, HE Is the Man of GOD's Right Hand, Made Strong for Himself
and us; as Mediator, HE Has all Power in heaven and earth: in Him Is Everlasting Strength for His people; HE Is their fortified place, or city of
refuge, to flee to on all occasions; HE Is the Stronghold, whither prisoners
of hope are directed to turn to; HE Is their place of defense, and a strong
tower, so deeply founded, no enemy can work under it; and plant a mine to blow
it up; so highly built; no scaling ladders can reach it; so fortified, no
cannon balls can break through it, or demolish any of its walls and bulwarks,
which are His Salvation; the gates of hell cannot prevail against it; it is not
to be taken by storm, or by the most violent attack of the whole posse of men
and devils.
The righteous runs into it; not self-righteous
persons, they run from CHRIST and His Righteousness, not to Him and that; but
such who see their own righteousness will not justify them; who indeed are
sinners, know and acknowledge themselves to be such; as sinners go to CHRIST, Who Receives them; and these are righteous through the Righteousness of CHRIST
imputed to them, and live soberly, righteously, and godly: and it is the
continual business of their faith to betake themselves to CHRIST upon all
occasions; they are continually coming to Him, and exercising faith upon Him,
as The Lord their Righteousness, which is meant by "running" to Him;
this supposes knowledge of Him, as the strong tower and city of refuge; of the
way unto him, and of the reception by Him which may be expected; it supposes a
principle of spiritual life, and some degree of spiritual strength; a sense of
danger or of want in themselves, and of safety and fullness in CHRIST.
And such a man who
runs to Him is safe; from the avenging Justice of GOD; from the curse and
condemnation of the Law; from sin, and all its dreadful consequences; from
Satan, and all spiritual enemies; from wrath to come, hell, and the second
death or is "set aloft"; is on high; for this tower, as it is a
strong one, it is a high one; a rock of refuge, higher than men, or angels, or
heaven itself; and such who are in it are out of the reach of all danger and
every enemy.
Amen.