Albert Barnes Commentary Proverbs 18

The text and the marginal readings indicate the two chief interpretations of this somewhat difficult verse. Other renderings are:

1. He who separates himself from others seeks his own desire, and rushes forward against all wise counsel: a warning against self-will and the self-assertion which exults in differing from the received customs and opinions of mankind.
2. He who separates himself (from the foolish, unlearned multitude) seeks his own desire (that which is worthy to be desired), and mingles himself with all wisdom. So the Jewish commentators generally.

Between (1) blaming and (2) commending the life of isolation, the decision must be that (1) is most in harmony with the character of the Book of Proverbs; but it is not strange that Pharisaism, in its very name, separating and self-exalting, should have adopted (2).

Another form of egotism. In “understanding,” that is, self-knowledge, the “fool” finds no pleasure; but self-assertion, talking about himself and his own opinions, is his highest joy.

With ignominy - Better, together with baseness comes reproach. The outer shame follows close upon the inner.

The parallelism of the two clauses is probably one of contrast. If so, the proverb is a comparison between all teaching from without and that of the light within. “The words of a man’s mouth” are dark as the “deep waters” of a pool, or tank (“deep waters” being associated in the Old Testament with the thought of darkness and mystery; Psalms 69:2; Ecclesiastes 7:24); but “the wellspring of wisdom is as a flowing brook,” bright and clear. The verse presents a contrast like that of Jeremiah 2:13.

The first verse speaks of the immediate, the others of the remote, results of the “fool’s” temper. First, “contention,” then “strokes” or blows, then “destruction,” and last, “wounds.”

(Proverbs 18:8)

Wounds—The word rendered this way occurs here and in Proverbs 26:22 only. Others translate it as “dainties,” and interpret the verse as describing the avidity with which people swallow tales of scandal. They find their way to the innermost recesses of human nature.